De Bruyne's Double Penalty Heroics Propel Belgium to Dramatic Comeback Win Over Wales

Belgium Stun Wales in Six-Goal Thriller

Belgium reignited their World Cup qualifying campaign with a pulsating 4-2 victory over Wales in Cardiff, overturning an early deficit to seize control of Group J. Captain Kevin De Bruyne starred with two penalties, while Thomas Meunier and Leandro Trossard added crucial goals to sink Welsh hopes.

Wales’ Early Promise Fades

Wales started brightly, with Joe Rodon nodding in Sorba Thomas’ eighth-minute corner to send the home crowd into raptures. However, Belgium capitalised on a contentious VAR decision when Ethan Ampadu was penalised for handball, allowing De Bruyne to level from the spot. The visitors struck again six minutes later as Jeremy Doku teed up Meunier, who rifled a volley past Karl Darlow.

Controversy and Late Drama

Wales struggled to regain momentum after the double blow, with Belgium dominating chances. A second penalty, awarded for Jordan James’ handball, saw De Bruyne extend the lead on 76 minutes. Substitute Nathan Broadhead reignited Welsh hopes with an 89th-minute strike, but Trossard sealed Belgium’s win in stoppage time with a clinical finish.

Post-Match Reactions

Wales manager Craig Bellamy criticised the first penalty decision, stating: “Ethan’s arm was in a natural position. The rules keep changing, but congratulations to Belgium.” Defender Ben Davies echoed the frustration, calling the call “harsh,” while Harry Wilson admitted the team struggled to recover mentally after conceding twice in quick succession.

• Group Standings: Belgium now lead Wales by four points, needing only a win against Liechtenstein to secure qualification.
• Wales’ Path: Automatic qualification looks unlikely, but a play-off spot remains achievable if they win their final two matches.

With Belgium poised to top the group, Wales face an uphill battle to secure direct World Cup entry, though their focus shifts to securing a play-off berth in November’s decisive qualifiers.