Continuing their longstanding trend at the Cardiff City Stadium, a spirited Wales performance sees the Red Dragons maximise their resources to hold the dominant Red Devils to a draw – by virtue of a late equaliser from one of their most promising young players.
Johnson stayed cool to apply the finishing touch as the home side snatched their first point as a League A nation.
This will leave their visitors ruing a lack of incision in the final third.
Belgium’s stranglehold on possession continued almost throughout, but at the end of a long, hard season.
They lacked a little sparkle when it really mattered – Tielemans’ excellent opening goal aside.
Starting lineup:
WALES (3-4-3): Wayne Hennessey; Chris Mepham, Joe Rodon, Ben Davies; Connor Roberts, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Allen, Neco Williams; Harry Wilson, Gareth Bale, Daniel James.
SUBS: Tom King, Adam Davies, Matthew Smith, Mark Harris, Rubin Colwill, Aaron Ramsey, Wes Burns, Brennan Johnson, Chris Gunter, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Sorba Thomas, Jonny Williams.
BELGIUM (3-4-3): Koen Casteels; Leander Dendoncker, Dedryck Boyata, Arthur Theate; Thomas Meunier, Axel Witsel, Youri Tielemans, Yannick Carrasco; Kevin De Bruyne, Michy Batshuayi, Leandro Trossard.
SUBS: Simon Mignolet, Matz Sels, Lois Openda, Jan Vertonghen, Dennis Praet, Adnan Januzaj, Eden Hazard, Hans Vanaken, Toby Alderweireld, Timothy Castagne, Alexis Saelemaekers, Thorgan Hazard.
Goals:
BELGIUM LEAD! Trossard and Batshuayi combine on the brink of the box with a slick passing move, to tee up a shooting opportunity for Tielemans just inside the Wales area. The Leicester City midfielder then coolly slots the ball into the bottom-right corner, and Belgium go 1-0 up!
WALES PULL LEVEL! A superb team move results in a Wales equaliser, as Johnson guides the ball into the bottom corner from just inside the area, following excellent work from fellow substitute Ramsey. The hosts have looked livelier since making a series of changes, and they are now back on level terms at 1-1!
So, what’s next?
Buoyed by their late revival today, Wales will complete a hectic summmer schedule on Tuesday.
As they visit the Netherlands – leaders of Group 4.
While Belgium, who have now won just two of their eight away games against the Welsh, next face Poland.
