Wales 2-4 Belgium: De Bruyne´s penalty double boosts qualification hopes

Claim up to &pound/€50 free sports match bet. Enter promo code: F50. New customers only.

Sign up with F25 promo code for up to &pound25 free matched bet. New customers only.

Wales slipped to a 4-2 defeat to Belgium at Cardiff City Stadium, as their 2026 World Cup qualification hopes took a major blow.

Craig Bellamy’s team knew a win on Monday might see them leapfrog Belgium into top spot in Group J, and Joe Rodon gave the hosts the ideal start as he headed home from a Sorba Thomas corner in the eighth minute.

However, just 10 minutes later, Kevin De Bruyne wheeled away in celebration after converting from the penalty spot, following Ethan Ampadu’s unfortunate handball in the box.

With parity restored, Belgium were in the ascendancy, and in the 24th minute a superb diagonal ball from Leandro Trossard found Jeremy Doku on the right wing, whose cut-back was met by a thumping effort from Thomas Meunier.

Doku and Trossard continued to probe after the interval, and the latter earned the visitors another penalty when Jordan James was adjudged to have handled. De Bruyne stepped up again and coolly slotted past Karl Darlow.