De Bruyne secures Belgium win over Wales in seven-goal thriller

Kevin De Bruyne spared Belgium's blushes after blowing a 3-0 lead to beat Wales 4-3 and kick-start the Red Devils’ 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Monday.

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Goals from Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku inside half an hour had given Belgium a dream start.

Wales, though, rallied through a Harry Wilson penalty, Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson to stun the side ranked eighth in the world.

But De Bruyne rode to his nation’s rescue, as he has so often in a stellar career, by steering in Tielemans’ perfect cross in the 88th minute.

Defeat was Craig Bellamy’s first as Wales manager as they fell just short of a national record of IO matches unbeaten.

However, there remains plenty of positives for Wales’ hopes of reaching next year’s World Cup.

They sit second in Group J, one point behind North Macedonia, and three in front of Belgium, who have two games in hand.

Only one side will automatically qualify with second earning a place in the play-offs.

After a | - | draw at North Macedonia on Friday to begin their qualifying campaign, Rudi Garcia recalled three of his Premier League stars in Leandro Trossard, Amadou Onana and Tielemans and Belgium clicked into gear.