• News

Bale blames ‘sloppy mistakes’ after Wales allow Belgium comeback win

Gareth Bale - Wales vs Belgium
Getty Images
Advertisement

The Great Britain nation ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline against the world No 1 ranked side despite striking first.

Wales did not have an ideal start to their World Cup qualifying campaign as they lost out 3-1 to Belgium on Wednesday.

Wales took the lead in the opening 10 minutes when Gareth Bale slid a brilliant outside-of-the-boot through ball for Harry Wilson to bury it past Thibaut Courtois.

Less than 20 minutes later, Belgium turned the tide. Kevin De Bruyne leveled the scoreline with a firing shot into the bottom right corner before Thorgan Hazard found the right corner of the net with his head. Romelu Lukaku then settled the match from the penalty spot at the 73-minute mark.

“It was great to get an early goal, it was going well, but a few sloppy mistakes let them back in,” Bale told Sky Sports. “We knew they are a great team and obviously when you make mistakes you get punished.

“In the second half we were in the game for large parts. Obviously we are disappointed to lose, but we knew it would be hard coming here and have to take the positives out of the game and take them into the next game.

“We knew at half-time the next goal would be crucial, if they got it, it makes it very difficult. We showed good spirit, but it wasn’t meant to be, so we take the positives out of the game.”

x