' FULL MATCH REPORTS : " BELGIUM Vs WALES "
Sun Nov 16, 2014 7:24 pm
Belgium 0-0 Wales 
Sunday Nov 16th 2014
BBC Match report.
Wales dug in for a gutsy goalless draw in Belgium to maintain their unbeaten start to their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
Belgium bossed the first half as Nacer Chadli was denied by Wayne Hennessey and Nicolas Lombaerts hit the post.
But Wales defended stoically and had chances of their own after the interval as Gareth Bale shot narrowly wide.
The point kept Wales top of Group B, though Israel could take their place with a win against Bosnia-Hercegovina.
Having made their best start to a campaign since winning their first four qualifiers for Euro 2004, Wales entered this match with renewed hope.
Despite the raised expectations, however, Chris Coleman's men were undoubtedly the underdogs against a Belgian side fourth in the Fifa world rankings.
Welsh hopes rested heavily on the shoulders of Bale, and it was no surprise that it was the world's most expensive player who had the visitors' first shot on target.
The Real Madrid forward unleashed a trademark swerving free-kick from 25 yards, but it was palmed away by Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
The Chelsea man's opposite number, Wayne Hennessey, was also called into action early on and made an excellent low save to deny Nacer Chadli from close range.
With Eden Hazard a constant threat as he drifted infield from the left flank and ran at Welsh defenders, Belgium began to dictate and put their opponents under pressure.
Wales' remaining Euro 2016 qualifiers
28 Mar 2015: Israel (a)
6 Sep 2015: Israel (h)
12 Jun 2015: Belgium (h)
10 Oct 2015: Bosnia-Hercegovina (a)
3 Sep 2015: Cyprus (a)
13 Oct 2015: Andorra (h)
From Kevin De Bruyne's in-swinging corner, defender Lombaerts struck the post with a powerful shot and, from the rebound, Divock Origi could only slide the ball wide.
For all of Belgium's heavy, Hazard-inspired domination, Wales held firm to keep the home side at bay in the first half.
Coleman's side were close to taking the lead against the run of play 12 minutes after the restart, as Bale skipped past Belgium's static defenders before flashing a shot narrowly wide of the far post.
Having brought Fulham's pacey young winger George Williams on for David Cotterill at half time, Wales posed more of a counter-attacking threat as the match wore on.
Although Belgium continued to control possession for long periods, they seemed wary of the visitors' threat and were careful not to commit too many players forward.
The Red Devils' apparent trepidation made for a tense atmosphere at the King Baudouin Stadium, and the sense of anxiety increased when Hal Robson-Kanu had a shot saved by Courtois.
Six minutes of injury time made it a nervous finale for Wales as Belgium poured forward, but Coleman's side remained resolute to claim a priceless point.
Sunday Nov 16th 2014
BBC Match report.
Wales dug in for a gutsy goalless draw in Belgium to maintain their unbeaten start to their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
Belgium bossed the first half as Nacer Chadli was denied by Wayne Hennessey and Nicolas Lombaerts hit the post.
But Wales defended stoically and had chances of their own after the interval as Gareth Bale shot narrowly wide.
The point kept Wales top of Group B, though Israel could take their place with a win against Bosnia-Hercegovina.
Having made their best start to a campaign since winning their first four qualifiers for Euro 2004, Wales entered this match with renewed hope.
Despite the raised expectations, however, Chris Coleman's men were undoubtedly the underdogs against a Belgian side fourth in the Fifa world rankings.
Welsh hopes rested heavily on the shoulders of Bale, and it was no surprise that it was the world's most expensive player who had the visitors' first shot on target.
The Real Madrid forward unleashed a trademark swerving free-kick from 25 yards, but it was palmed away by Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
The Chelsea man's opposite number, Wayne Hennessey, was also called into action early on and made an excellent low save to deny Nacer Chadli from close range.
With Eden Hazard a constant threat as he drifted infield from the left flank and ran at Welsh defenders, Belgium began to dictate and put their opponents under pressure.
Wales' remaining Euro 2016 qualifiers
28 Mar 2015: Israel (a)
6 Sep 2015: Israel (h)
12 Jun 2015: Belgium (h)
10 Oct 2015: Bosnia-Hercegovina (a)
3 Sep 2015: Cyprus (a)
13 Oct 2015: Andorra (h)
From Kevin De Bruyne's in-swinging corner, defender Lombaerts struck the post with a powerful shot and, from the rebound, Divock Origi could only slide the ball wide.
For all of Belgium's heavy, Hazard-inspired domination, Wales held firm to keep the home side at bay in the first half.
Coleman's side were close to taking the lead against the run of play 12 minutes after the restart, as Bale skipped past Belgium's static defenders before flashing a shot narrowly wide of the far post.
Having brought Fulham's pacey young winger George Williams on for David Cotterill at half time, Wales posed more of a counter-attacking threat as the match wore on.
Although Belgium continued to control possession for long periods, they seemed wary of the visitors' threat and were careful not to commit too many players forward.
The Red Devils' apparent trepidation made for a tense atmosphere at the King Baudouin Stadium, and the sense of anxiety increased when Hal Robson-Kanu had a shot saved by Courtois.
Six minutes of injury time made it a nervous finale for Wales as Belgium poured forward, but Coleman's side remained resolute to claim a priceless point.
Re: MATCH REPORTS : BELGIUM Vs WALES
Sun Nov 16, 2014 7:49 pm
Belgium 0-0 Wales match report: Chris Coleman's men hold on for priceless Euro 2016 point in Brussels
Sunday Nov 16, 2014
By Chris Wathan
Wales defended resolutely to earn a draw in Brussels which keeps their hopes of qualifying for France 2016 well and truly alive.
Belgium 0-0 Wales
Wales maintained their unbeaten start in Euro 2016 qualifying as a defensive performance of true grit and resilience saw Group B favourites Belgium held in Brussels.
Nicolas Lombaerts struck a post for Belgium in the first half and Eden Hazard was a constant tormentor throughout, but Wales refused to yield and they held on for a point which will strengthen their growing conviction that they can qualify for the finals in France.
After being forced to soak up pressure for large periods, Chris Coleman's side did break out to create the odd chance.
Gareth Bale twice forced saves from Thibaut Courtois in the Belgian goal with swerving free-kicks, while the Real Madrid forward went close with a second-half shot after powering past two home defenders.
Both sides made three changes from their previous encounter - Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen welcomed back into the Wales midfield after injuries and joined by David Cotterill - but it was Belgium who enjoyed the early possession.
Hazard clearly had a licence to drift when Belgium attacked but twice the hosts were let down by poor Nacer Chadli crosses.
Wales were looking to launch swift counter-attacks, with Bale operating in the centre-forward role, and he was only denied from one such opportunity by a last-ditch Jan Vertonghen tackle.
Bale had another sight of goal after 14 minutes when Lombaerts fouled Ramsey to concede a free-kick 25 yards out, Courtois just about pushing the ball to safety.
In what was proving an open affair, Belgium went straight on the attack and Hazard's mazy run took him into the Welsh penalty area where his low shot was held at the second attempt by Wayne Hennessey in the Wales goal.
Hennessey was far more convincing when Divock Origi's flick freed Chadli and the goalkeeper came off his line to save smartly.
Wales were starting to come under pressure and when they failed to clear a corner, Lombaerts swivelled in a crowded area to strike the far post with no Belgian able to provide a telling touch on the rebound.
Belgium were pinning the visitors deep inside their own half and Joe Ledley was booked after conceding a free-kick within shooting distance.
But Hazard planted his shot into the Welsh wall and Belgium could not capitalise from the resulting corner as Marouane Fellaini's flick-on escaped Chadli at the far post.
Bale was being completely isolated as Wales' early promise on the break had completely disappeared and the defence were having to dig in, but they made it through to half-time after Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick was comfortably held by Hennessey under his crossbar.
Wales sent on George Williams at half-time to give them more attacking potency and the exciting Fulham teenager started well by slipping Vetonghen down the touchline.
But Belgium were still probing and Hazard shimmied his way to the edge of the area, where he forced Hennessey into saving at the base of a post.
Wales were keeping the ball better at the start of the second period and Bale drove at the Belgian defence to fire a shot across Courtois but just beyond the far post.
Bale was now starting to see more of the ball and his industry won a free-kick which again forced Courtois to be alert.
Hazard's dribbling ability was still posing problems but Wales' growing belief was reflected by the fact that left-back Neil Taylor advanced to find space for a shooting opportunity, even if the end product did not trouble Courtois.
Belgium were also looking to profit from quick breaks, especially when Hazard was in possession, but De Bruyne dragged a shot badly wide with Wales short of numbers for once.
Allen, who had come off worse in a challenge with Fellaini to collect a bloody nose, then joined Ledley in Czech referee Pavel Kralovec's book by blocking off Hazard.
Belgium sent on Christian Benteke and Dries Mertens to find the key to unlocking the Wales defence but too often the Red Devils were guilty of sending in aimless crosses.
But Belgium really began cranking up in the pressure in the final 10 minutes and Benteke headed over before Chris Gunter stopped Hazard reaching a loose ball in the area as danger lurked.
Wales were not settling for a draw, however, and a delightful move ended with George Williams back-heeling the ball into Robson-Kanu's path and Courtois having to go to ground to make the save.
The tempo of the contest was interrupted when Mertens suffered a nasty-looking injury in a clash with George Williams and Wales held on during six minutes of stoppage time to claim what could prove to be an invaluable point in the final reckoning.
Sunday Nov 16, 2014
By Chris Wathan
Wales defended resolutely to earn a draw in Brussels which keeps their hopes of qualifying for France 2016 well and truly alive.
Belgium 0-0 Wales
Wales maintained their unbeaten start in Euro 2016 qualifying as a defensive performance of true grit and resilience saw Group B favourites Belgium held in Brussels.
Nicolas Lombaerts struck a post for Belgium in the first half and Eden Hazard was a constant tormentor throughout, but Wales refused to yield and they held on for a point which will strengthen their growing conviction that they can qualify for the finals in France.
After being forced to soak up pressure for large periods, Chris Coleman's side did break out to create the odd chance.
Gareth Bale twice forced saves from Thibaut Courtois in the Belgian goal with swerving free-kicks, while the Real Madrid forward went close with a second-half shot after powering past two home defenders.
Both sides made three changes from their previous encounter - Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen welcomed back into the Wales midfield after injuries and joined by David Cotterill - but it was Belgium who enjoyed the early possession.
Hazard clearly had a licence to drift when Belgium attacked but twice the hosts were let down by poor Nacer Chadli crosses.
Wales were looking to launch swift counter-attacks, with Bale operating in the centre-forward role, and he was only denied from one such opportunity by a last-ditch Jan Vertonghen tackle.
Bale had another sight of goal after 14 minutes when Lombaerts fouled Ramsey to concede a free-kick 25 yards out, Courtois just about pushing the ball to safety.
In what was proving an open affair, Belgium went straight on the attack and Hazard's mazy run took him into the Welsh penalty area where his low shot was held at the second attempt by Wayne Hennessey in the Wales goal.
Hennessey was far more convincing when Divock Origi's flick freed Chadli and the goalkeeper came off his line to save smartly.
Wales were starting to come under pressure and when they failed to clear a corner, Lombaerts swivelled in a crowded area to strike the far post with no Belgian able to provide a telling touch on the rebound.
Belgium were pinning the visitors deep inside their own half and Joe Ledley was booked after conceding a free-kick within shooting distance.
But Hazard planted his shot into the Welsh wall and Belgium could not capitalise from the resulting corner as Marouane Fellaini's flick-on escaped Chadli at the far post.
Bale was being completely isolated as Wales' early promise on the break had completely disappeared and the defence were having to dig in, but they made it through to half-time after Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick was comfortably held by Hennessey under his crossbar.
Wales sent on George Williams at half-time to give them more attacking potency and the exciting Fulham teenager started well by slipping Vetonghen down the touchline.
But Belgium were still probing and Hazard shimmied his way to the edge of the area, where he forced Hennessey into saving at the base of a post.
Wales were keeping the ball better at the start of the second period and Bale drove at the Belgian defence to fire a shot across Courtois but just beyond the far post.
Bale was now starting to see more of the ball and his industry won a free-kick which again forced Courtois to be alert.
Hazard's dribbling ability was still posing problems but Wales' growing belief was reflected by the fact that left-back Neil Taylor advanced to find space for a shooting opportunity, even if the end product did not trouble Courtois.
Belgium were also looking to profit from quick breaks, especially when Hazard was in possession, but De Bruyne dragged a shot badly wide with Wales short of numbers for once.
Allen, who had come off worse in a challenge with Fellaini to collect a bloody nose, then joined Ledley in Czech referee Pavel Kralovec's book by blocking off Hazard.
Belgium sent on Christian Benteke and Dries Mertens to find the key to unlocking the Wales defence but too often the Red Devils were guilty of sending in aimless crosses.
But Belgium really began cranking up in the pressure in the final 10 minutes and Benteke headed over before Chris Gunter stopped Hazard reaching a loose ball in the area as danger lurked.
Wales were not settling for a draw, however, and a delightful move ended with George Williams back-heeling the ball into Robson-Kanu's path and Courtois having to go to ground to make the save.
The tempo of the contest was interrupted when Mertens suffered a nasty-looking injury in a clash with George Williams and Wales held on during six minutes of stoppage time to claim what could prove to be an invaluable point in the final reckoning.
Re: ' FULL MATCH REPORTS : " BELGIUM Vs WALES "
Sun Nov 16, 2014 8:01 pm
Fantastic point away from home il still think we will qualify
Re: ' FULL MATCH REPORTS : " BELGIUM Vs WALES "
Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:27 pm