Belgium 0-0 Wales: Battling draw in Brussels

Wales Hal Robson-Kanu, Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale applaud the fans after clinching a 0-0 draw with Belgium. Picture: PA

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.

Belgium enjoyed the early possession and Hazard clearly had a licence to drift while 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 Aaron 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 area where his low shot was held at the second attempt by Wayne Hennessey in the Wales goal.

CONNECT WITH THE SCOTSMAN

• Subscribe to our daily newsletter (requires registration) and get the latest news, sport and business headlines delivered to your inbox every morning

• You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google +

Hennessey was far more convincing when Divock Origi’s flick freed Nacer Chadli and the keeper 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.

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.

Wales sent on George Williams at half-time to give them more attacking potency and the exciting Fulham teenager started well by slipping Vertonghen 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 half and Bale drove forward 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.  Belgium sent on Christian Benteke and Dries Mertens to find the key to unlocking the Wales defence and really began cranking up the pressure in the final ten minutes, Benteke heading 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 Hal 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.

“It wasn’t pretty at times but who cares? It’s about points,” said Wales manager Coleman who believes his team have learnt a lot from their unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign.

“We learnt from the last campaign where we played some much better football, we had a lot of chances, we kept getting beat too much. [It was] Too easy when we didn’t have the ball but we’re a much tougher outfit now.

“That’s two clean sheets in four games. Two clean sheets against the two top teams, Bosnia and Belgium, so we’re on the right path, that’s for sure.”

He added: “I thought it was an incredible performance from our lads. We’re up against an incredible offensive, aggressive team, they don’t come much tougher than that. It’s been labelled the best Belgium team ever so to come here and take a point speaks volumes for our players.

“The lads, they showed so much character, courageous at times.”

SCOTSMAN TABLET AND IPHONE APPS

• Download your free 30-day trial for our iPad, Android and Kindle apps

• Keep up to date with all aspects of Scottish life with The Scotsman iPhone app, completely free to download and use