Wales suffer dramatic World Cup qualifying defeat to Belgium after fightback

Wales suffered a dramatic 4-3 World Cup qualifying defeat to Belgium as their incredible comeback from three goals down eventually proved in vain.

Kevin De Bruyne was the Belgium match-winner two minutes from time to deny Wales a precious point in Brussels.

Belgium had seized complete control inside 27 minutes as Romelu Lukaku, with a controversial penalty, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku silenced the loud 4,500-strong following from Wales.

But Harry Wilson gave Wales hope from the spot on the stroke of half-time, and cool finishes from Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson turned the tie on its head.

Almost every goal had a laborious VAR check and a late Lukaku effort was chalked off – resulting in both Wales manager Craig Bellamy and his Belgium counterpart Rudi Garcia being booked – but there was no saving the visitors as De Bruyne volleyed home at the far post.

Wales had lost top spot in Group J before kick-off courtesy of North Macedonia’s win in Kazakhstan.

Bellamy’s unbeaten record would also disappear – exactly a year to the day since Wales had lost for the last time – in his 10th game in charge.

It was a duel between familiar foes with this being their 11th meeting in 13 years.

Neco Williams was absent after being taken off on a stretcher in Friday’s victory over Liechtenstein, and Bellamy made three changes with Chris Mepham, David Brooks and Jordan James recalled.

Aston Villa midfielder Tielemans led a Belgian team who featured several faces well known to Premier League fans.

Bellamy had promised a bold approach and Thomas was positive in the first minute to deliver a cross into the six-yard box that no-one in the middle could get on the end of.

But Wales crumbled in the space of 12 minutes after Johnson was