Wales have taken a major step towards qualifying for Euro 2016 as Gareth Bale scored the only goal of the game to fire his side to a 1-0 win over Belgium.

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The visitors were the first side to threaten as Radja Nainggolan picked up the ball on the edge of the box and drilled a low effort at goal, but his strike was well saved by Wayne Hennessey.

Wales took the lead in the 25th minute when Nainggolan made a horrendous mistake as his attempted backpass to Thibaut Courtois was seized upon by Bale, who slotted the ball past the keeper into the net.

Chris Coleman's side should have doubled their advantage as Hal Robson-Kanu and Aaron Ramsey combined to set up a chance for the Arsenal man, but his drive was saved by Courtois. Robson-Kanu latched on to the rebound, but he could only put his strike wide of the post.

In the second half, Belgium almost found an equaliser when Kevin De Bruyne surged forward from midfield and drilled an effort from the edge of the box, but his strike went inches past the post.

Marc Wilmots's side almost got back into the game when Eden Hazard latched on to a cross at the back post and powered a header towards the net, but Chris Gunter was on hand to divert the ball over the bar.

Toby Alderweireld should have done better with another opportunity when he rose highest in the area to head at goal from a corner, but he could only nod wide of the target.

Belgium upped the ante late in the game, but the home side held out for the win to move three points clear at the top of Group B.

Written by
Simon Sinclair