Wales' brilliant fightback all in vain as De Bruyne pounces

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

- By PHIL BLANCHE

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 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.