KDB's penalty precision sinks Wales
Wales slipped to a 4-2 defeat to Belgium at Cardiff City Stadium, as its 2026 World Cup qualification hopes took a major blow.
Craig Bellamy's team knew a win might see it leapfrog Belgium into top spot in Group J, and Joe Rodon gave the host 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, after Ethan Ampadu's handball in the box.
With parity restored, Belgium was in the ascendancy, and in the 24th minute a 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 visitor another penalty when Jordan James was adjudged to have handled. De Bruyne stepped up again and coolly slotted past Karl Darlow.
While the hosts thought they had got themselves back in it after Nathan Broadhead lashed a strike past Thibaut Courtois in the 89th minute, Belgium had other ideas, as a blistering counter-attack was rounded off by Trossard to restore their two-goal cushion.
Defeat leaves Wales in third place, four points behind Belgium and three off second-place North Macedonia.
