- match commentary
- European World Cup Qualifiers
- 7 September 2012, 7:45pm
- Millennium Stadium
Wales![]() | v | Belgium![]() |
| 0 | 2
|
live commentary
90 mins:FULL TIME: WALES 0-2 BELGIUM.
90 mins:The match is petering out now and both sides are waiting for the final whistle. Coleman will be disappointed to have lost his first competitive game in charge and has still not seen his side score a goal but must pay respects to a strong Belgium team.
89 mins:Vermaelen picks up a late booking for Belgium.
88 mins:From a Belgium corner Lukaku sets up Vermaelen who blazes over from 12-yards! It could easily be three nil to the visitors but they know they have this game in the bag.
87 mins:Adam Matthews picks up a knock for the home side and there will be a couple of extra minutes added on at the final whistle as he receives treatment.
85 mins:It is all over now for Wales and they will be thoroughly disappointed after making such a bright start to the game. Belgium have completely dominated this second-half however and are worthy of the three points.
83 mins: GOAL! WALES 0-2 BELGIUM: VERTONGHEN steps up and sends an incredible free-kick straight into the top corner! What a strike from the Tottenham defender, Myhill had no chance!
81 mins:Belgium are happy just to slow play down and see this game out now. They are in control and unless Wales produce something special in these closing stages, it looks like they will begin their World Cup qualifiers with three points.
79 mins:Edwards makes way for Andy King.
79 mins:Bales breaks down the left flank and is brought down recklessly by Gillet who thoroughly deserves his yellow card.
76 mins:Sloppy play from Wales and it almost gifts an opportunity for Belgium as De Bruyne plays through Lukaku but the young forward is slow to react to the through ball and Myhill collects it.
75 mins:Mertens is involved yet again and tries to bend a shot towards the far corner from the side of the box but Blake is there to head the shot away.
74 mins:Mertens appeals for a penalty! He receives the ball from Fellaini and goes down under the challenge from Edwards but the referee is not interested.
72 mins:Morison makes way for Sam Vokes.
72 mins:Hal Robson-Kanu comes on for Church.
70 mins:Wales look like they are about to make a change as De Bruyne's corner is headed clear at the near post.
68 mins:Mertens has really stood out for Belgium tonight. He is terrorising Chris Gunter down the left flank and is unfortunate on this occasion to see his cross snuffed out by a red shirt.
65 mins:Kevin De Bruyne comes on for Dembele.
63 mins:Belgium win their ninth and tenth corners of the game in quick succession. The first fails to beat the first man and the second is taken short with Gillet's delivery sailing straight out for a goal-kick.
61 mins:The resulting corner finds Williams whose header deflects just wide of the target for another Welsh corner. Good pressure from the home side and the crowd have found their voices again!
60 mins:What a strike! Bale hits a venomous free-kick from 35-yards which bends in the air and Thibaut Courtois palms it behind for a corner.
58 mins:Belgium attack again and Jan Vertonghen bursts into the box but can only drive a left-footed effort into the side netting from a tight angle. Wales are on the ropes here.
56 mins:Another opportunity for the visitors as Mertens whips in a dream of a cross for Lukaku whose header from six-yards is blocked by Ashley Williams and bounces out for a corner.
55 mins:Half a chance for Belgium as Dembele again tees up Witsel whose 25-yard shot dips comfortably over the crossbar.
53 mins:It is all Belgium at the moment but the latest move comes to an end as Lukaku's cross sails out for a goal-kick.
51 mins:Moussa Dembele does well in the final third and sets up Axel Witsel who makes a mess of his shot, slicing it harmlessly wide.
49 mins:Gillet cuts in from the left side of the box and strikes a weak right-footed shot which poses no problems for Myhill.
48 mins:Belgium are enjoying all the early possession. Wales may struggle in this second-half
46 mins:Romelu Lukaku is a half-time replacement for Mirallas.
46 mins:Belgium get the second-half underway.
45 mins:HALF TIME: WALES 0-1 BELGIUM.
45 mins:Bale tries to create something from the right flank. He turns his marker but his cross is above everyone and bounces out for a goal-kick.
43 mins:Disappointing for Wales. The sending off has turned the game on its head - Belgium have their tails up now and Wales are on the back foot.
41 mins:GOAL! WALES 0-1 BELGIUM: VINCENT KOMPANY makes it look easy as he latches onto a corner and heads the ball into the back of the net. Nightmare end to the first-half for Wales and Chris Coleman.
40 mins:Thomas Vermaelen, who has a decent left foot, lets fly from 30-yards sending the ball into the stand behind the goal.
39 mins:Bale cuts the ball back from the byline and Morison's dummy leaves it for Church whose shot from 10 yards is blocked by a defender! Superb break from the home side.
38 mins:Mertens looks dangerous for Belgium and looks the most likely to create something. He cuts in from the left and tries to pick out a team-mate with a cross but his final ball is poor.
36 mins:Mertens should hit the target! Hazard's cross is missed by Fellaini but drops to the Mertens who tries to bend the ball into the top corner but sends it wide!
34 mins:Gillet is being booed by the home crowd every time he touches the ball. Collins did catch him in all fairness but eyebrows may be raised over the Swedish referee's decision.
32 mins:Belgium are much more involved after the sending off. Wales, despite being the better side so far, would surely be happy with a draw now.
30 mins:Decent break from Belgium and Hazard reaches the byline but his cross into the six-yard box is scrambled away by a red shirt.
28 mins:Big decision from the referee. Wales will feel hard done by after a bright start and it is up to them to try and see this game through now.
26 mins:James Collins is sent off! The defender leaves the ground and jumps in on Guillaume Gillet, catching him on the inside of the leg. The ref has no hesitations in reaching for his pocket but it looks harsh, even if it is a bad challenge!
25 mins:Wales' turn to throw the ball into the mixer from a free-kick now but it is dealt with comfortably by Belgium.
24 mins:Belgium throw players forward for a free-kick in a decent position but Hazard's delivery sails straight into the arms of Boaz Myhill.
22 mins:Dries Mertens whips in an inviting cross and it looks destined for goal as Mirallas attacks it but James Collins does well to reach the ball first and head it over his own crossbar.
21 mins:Belgium are yet to threaten the Welsh goal. The home side are dealing with their opponents comfortably as they fend off the latest Belgian attack.
18 mins:Gareth Bale does brilliantly to skip past a defender on the right flank and bursts into the box but his final ball is poor, poking the ball a over the head of Simon Church in the six-yard box.
16 mins:Chris Coleman will be delighted with this start. His side are stopping Belgium playing football and the visitors have been frustrated so far!
14 mins:Belgium try to take the sting out of Wales' early dominance with a spell of possession but they can't keep hold of the ball. Everything is falling to the home side at the moment.
12 mins:Wales have started brightly and are having the better of proceeding. Aaron Ramsey tries to link up with Edwards on the edge of the box but the return pass falls to a Belgium player.
10 mins:Chance for Wales! A long free-kick is flicked on by Steve Morison towards David Edwards who beats the keeper to the ball but can only poke it into the side netting from six yards.
8 mins:Decent buildup play from Belgium and Kvin Mirallas tries to work his way into the box but Darcy Blake nicks the ball from him on the edge of the box.
7 mins:Both sides are trying to catch each other on the break. Belgium attempt a counter attack now but Wales are back in numbers before the ball reaches the halfway line.
5 mins:The home crowd is up for this and are full of voice. It should be an interesting 90 minutes, both sides include world class players.
3 mins:The match starts with a quick tempo and Eden Hazard gets a few early touches on the ball. Wales will want to keep an eye on him this evening.
2 mins:Chris Coleman is still awaiting his first goal in charge of Wales. It will be a tough ask tonight against a talented Belgium team boasting 10 players from the Premier League.
1 mins:Swedish referee Stefan Johannesson gets the game underway at the Cardiff City stadium.
team line-up
| 1 | Boaz Myhill | |
| 3 | Adam Matthews | |
| 4 | Darcy Blake | |
| 5 | James Collins | |
| 6 | Ashley Williams | |
| 2 | Chris Gunter | |
| 11 | Gareth Bale | |
| 7 | David Edwards | 79 |
| 10 | Aaron Ramsey | |
| 8 | Simon Church | 71 |
| 9 | Steve Morison | 72 |
substitutes
| 14 | Sam Ricketts | |
| 13 | Ben Davies | |
| 20 | Jonathan Williams | |
| 15 | Ashley Richards | |
| 21 | Lewis Price | |
| 12 | Jason Brown | |
| 18 | Robert Earnshaw | |
| 16 | David Vaughan | |
| 19 | Sam Vokes | 72 |
| 17 | Andy King | 79 |
| 22 | Hal Robson-Kanu | 71 |
referee
Stefan Johannessonteam line-up
| 1 | Thibaut Courtois | |
| 3 | Thomas Vermaelen | |
| 4 | Vincent Kompany | |
| 5 | Jan Vertonghen | |
| 7 | Mousa Dembélé | 64 |
| 6 | Axel Witsel | |
| 11 | Dries Mertens | |
| 10 | Eden Hazard | |
| 8 | Marouane Fellaini | |
| 2 | Guillaume Gillet | |
| 9 | Kevin Mirallas | 45 |
substitutes
| 18 | Steven Defour | |
| 14 | Kevin De Bruyne | 64 |
| 12 | Simon Mignolet | |
| 21 | Jean-François Gillet | |
| 20 | Romelu Lukaku | 45 |
| 16 | Daniel van Buyten | |
| 19 | Nicolas Lombaerts | |
| 22 | Timmy Simons | |
| 17 | Igor de Camargo | |
| 15 | Toby Alderweireld | |
| 13 | Laurent Ciman | |
| 23 | Christian Benteke |
referee
Stefan Johannessonmatch stats
| possession % | 29 | 70 | |
| shots on target | 1 | 3 | |
| shots off target | 1 | 12 | |
| corners | 6 | 16 | |
| tackles won | 19 | 12 | |
| offsides | 0 | 2 |





