Everything is level at halftime after an energetic first half that saw Belgium take the lead before Wales showed great character to bring themselves back.
Belgium started the half well, dominating possession and chances. Wales were lucky not to concede in the 8th minute after Belgium had three successive chances in a row. Yannick Carrasco was first to shoot after picking up the ball from Romelu Lukaku, but his shot is blocked. The ball’s hammered goalwards again and blocked again, before Eden Hazard shoot high over the cross-bar from the edge of the penalty area.
In the 8th minute Gareth Bale got his first touch of the ball and from there Wales managed to retain possession and create chances for the next few minutes but it was to no avail.
Nearly a quarter of an hour into the half Belgium opened the scoring. Radja Nainggolan belted the ball from outside the penalty area. The keeper didn’t stand a chance and the Roma man with a Mohawk put hit country firmly in the lead.
By the 23th minute two out of four of Wales’ defence are booked for foul play. James Chester joinied Ben Davies in the referee’s notebook after being pulled up for a trip on Romelu Lukaku. Minutes later Chris Gunter is also booked for a defensive foul.
Wales began to mount pressure on the Belgian defence and in the 30th minute it breaks. Hal Robson-Kanu wins a corner for Wales off Romelu and after the ref breaks up some scuffling between players in the box the corner was taken and Wales’ captain Ashley Williams equalised with a header!
Ten minutes later Belgium had a corner, which Kevin De Bruyne took. He firds the ball towards the near post, where Ben Davies heads clear. Radja Nainggolan hooks the ball back into the Wales area, where Toby Alderweireld is unable to get much purchase on a header that doesn’t trouble Wayne Hennessey.
Minutes later the whistle is blown. Both sides have been terrific in the first half. All to play for in the second half.
Wales 1-1 Belgium
Goals: Radja Nainggolan 13’, Ashley Williams 30’
Source: transfermarketweb.com