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Belgium national football team
World Cup | Qualifiers
Oct 15, 2013 at 8pm UK
 
Wales national football team

1-1

de Bruyne (64')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Ramsey (87')

Match Analysis: Belgium 1-1 Wales

Sports Mole takes a closer look at this evening's final Group A World Cup qualifier between Belgium and Wales in Brussels.

Belgium played host to Wales in tonight's final World Cup qualifying match in Group A with their ticket to next year's finals in Brazil already secured.

The Red Devils took the lead through Kevin de Bruyne but were punished for missing a number of chances to extend their lead when Aaron Ramsey scored a late equaliser.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look to see if the result was fair.

Match statistics:

Belgium:
Shots: 29
On target: 8
Possession: 55%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 11

Wales:
Shots:
7
On target: 3
Possession: 45%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 6

Was the result fair?

There is no doubt who the better team was, but Wales were by no means poor, so it's hard to say that they didn't deserve a draw. Aaron Ramsey took the one chance that came his way, whereas the Belgians wasted a number of great opportunities to score. It could well be a good lesson for Belgium to learn, and they still end the group unbeaten.

Belgium's performance:

They built on a solid enough start by creating some chances midway through the first half. Wales were hanging on until half time as Toby Alderweireld and Romelu Lukaku came close to breaking the deadlock. The second-half introduction of Eden Hazard gave them fresh impetus, and he became the driving force in midfield. Kevin de Bruyne had played well but lacked an end product for most of the evening, but he kept a cool head to get some reward for his hard work just past the hour mark. Marc Wilmost will be left wondering where his defence went for the Welsh equaliser, as Ramsey was allowed to roam into the area to poke the ball between the legs of Thibaut Courtois. It was a complete lapse in concentration.

Wales's performance:

The visitors started well, but Belgium had them on the ropes for most of the match. Although Wales had more possession in the first half, the hosts enjoyed quite a bit of the ball in the attacking half, and Chris Coleman's men were having to work hard to keep their shape. The pressure finally told in the 64th minute when De Bruyne knocked the ball past James Wilson and swept the ball across Wayne Hennessey. They rarely got forward thereafter, but they punished the Red Devils for their wastefulness when Craig Bellamy supplied Ramsey to bring a satisfying end to international football for the Cardiff City winger.

Sports Mole's man of the match:

Aaron Ramsey: It was his goal that got the point for Wales and he had a fine evening all around. It was a toss-up between him and Kevin de Bruyne, but ultimately it was the Welshman who shone that little bit brighter.

Biggest gaffe:

The Belgium defence gets this accolade for their slack defending, although it was Kevin de Bruyne and Moussa Dembele caught ball watching, allowing Ramsey stroll into the area and score the equaliser.

Referee performance:

Sergei Karasev had a decent game, he went unnoticed for most of it. He was right not to award a penalty for Wales when Simon Church went down under the challenge of Daniel van Buyten in the first half.

What next?

Belgium: The Red Devils look like they'll be facing Colombia in a friendly at the King Baudouin Stadium on November 15. The draw for the World Cup takes place in Bahia on December 6, so there's that to look forward to as well.

Wales: The Dragons welcome Finland to Cardiff on November 16, but the next draw that they're awaiting is for the 2016 European Championship in France. That takes place in Paris on February 23.

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Romelu Lukaku of Belgium and James Collins of Wales stretch for the ball during the FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifying Group A match on October 15, 2013
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Group A

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Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
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Group B

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Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

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Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
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Group D

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Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

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Group F

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3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

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3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
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3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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