CYMRU SUFFER 4-2 LOSS IN MAJOR WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

In a dramatic and emotionally charged contest at Cardiff City Stadium, Belgium edged past Cymru 4–2 to deal a serious blow to the Dragons’ ambitions of automatic World Cup qualification. 

Cymru burst out of the blocks with intent, encouraged by the home support and early possession of dominance. In the 8th minute, they took the lead. From a well‑delivered Sorba Thomas corner, Joe Rodon found himself unmarked in the six-yard box and powered a header past Thibaut Courtois. The Stadium erupted, away fans were silenced. This looked promising. 

The dominance was short lived as Belgium responded swiftly. Around the 18th minute, a VAR check judged that Cymru’s Ethan Ampadu’s hand touched the ball inside his own box after a shot from Kevin De Bruyne. De Bruyne coolly converted the resulting penalty to level the score. 

Her Game Too Cymru Ambassadors ahead of the fixture

Belgium then seized the initiative. Just six minutes later, Thomas Meunier rattled home a blistering shot following incisive attacking play, putting Belgium 2–1 up. 

By half time, Cymru had lost some of their earlier impetus, and Belgium went in with the momentum. 

Belgium continued to press after the break, with Jérémy Doku and Leandro Trossard constantly probing Cymru’s backline. 

Then, in one of the more surreal moments of the night, play was briefly halted due to a rat running across the pitch. Confusion and laughter echoed from the crowd. Players paused, and Brennan Johnson saved the day by guiding it off the field, allowing play to resume. 

The rat escapes Thibaut Courtois.

In the 76th minute, Cymru were again punished by a spot kick, this time awarded after a handball by Jordan James. Kevin De Bruyne stepped up once more and converted with consummate composure to extend the lead to 3–1. 

But Cymru refused to capitulate. In the 89th minute, substitute Nathan Broadhead produced a sharp finish inside the box to halve the deficit and reignite hope among the home fans. Chants echoed throughout the stadium, Cymru were fighting to the whistle. 

The comeback flickered briefly, but only for a moment. Immediately from the restart, Belgium surged forward. Leandro Trossard was left unmarked at the back post and slotted the ball home to restore a two-goal cushion, sealing a 4–2 victory.