EURO 2016 – Wales 3-1 Belgium - FT

Published on: 01 July 2016

Belgium went ahead early in the first half, however, Wales' quality and teamwork won them the game deservedly.

Belgium started the game 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 game 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 three 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 forces 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.

Belgium dominated possession early in the second half, until Joe Allen commits a foul and concedes a free-kick. Belgium got the ball forward, Fellaini played it wide to Thomas Meunier on the right flank. His delivery to Romelu Lukaku was great, but the big Everton striker skimmed a header wide of the left upright from less than seven yards out.

But, it’s Wales that put themselves ahead 10 minutes into the second half. Hal Robson Kanu, who took on three Belgian defenders with a brilliant turn after picking up a cross from Aaron Ramsey on the right. Having wrong-footed  the three  defenders with his slick soft-shoe shuffle, he buried the ball past Thibaut Courtois with a low drive from 10 yards, putting Wales into the lead.

In the 64th minute Belgium win a chance to equalise off of a corner, but De Bruyne’s kick was easily read by Hennessey who easily stopped the ball. For the next ten minutes Wales begin to dominate, Belgium no longer looked like a team and turned into a group of individuals – reminiscent of England earlier in the week.

In the 73rd minute Fellaini messed up possibly Belgiums best chance of the game to equalise. Toby Alderweirteld sennt a wonderful cross to the far post from the right. Fellaini got the jump on James Chester, made firm contact with the ball and somehow sends the ball wide from the edge of the six-yard box. He repeats the process another 3 times in the ensuing 3 minutes.

Belgium began to drag themselves back into the game and begin taking pot-shots at the goal. In the 79th minute Belgium were robbed of a free kick just outside the box and Wales should have seen a red card. Ben Davies had brought down Romelu Lukaku on the edge of the penalty area after the striker had turned him, but got away with it.

Minutes later Belgium were robbed again! Nainggolan went down in the Wales penalty area while trying to get on a through ball from Eden Hazard - Ashley Williams caught him on his instep with a mistimed lunge. It should have been 2-2!

For the next five minutes Belgium pepper the Welsh goal, but the Dragon stood firm and took it’s opportunity where it could. Against the run of play Sam Vokes puts Wales two goals ahead with a wonderful header past Thibaut Courtois and inside the left upright, 5 minutes before the end of the game!

For the next five minutes Belgium try valiantly but Wales are content to hoof the ball up field.

Wales 3-1 Belgium

Wales make the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time in their history! They go on to play Portugal in the semi-final. Prepare for Bale v Ronaldo!

Goals: Nainggolan 13’, Williams 30’, Robson-Kanu 55’, Vokes 85’

Source: transfermarketweb.com

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