HAL ROBSON-KANU scored a sensational goal as Wales came from behind to stun Belgium 3-1 in Friday’s Euro 2016 quarter-final in Lille and reach their first major tournament semi-final.
Radja Nainggolan gave Belgium a 13th-minute lead, but Ashley Williams equalised before a dazzling strike from Robson-Kanu, whose contract with English second-tier club Reading expired on Thursday, and a late header by substitute Sam Vokes earned Wales a historic victory.
Wales talisman Gareth Bale will now go head-to-head with his Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo when the tournament’s last British representatives face Portugal in Lyon on Wednesday.
In beating Belgium, who they also defeated in qualifying, Chris Coleman’s men surpassed the Wales greats of 1958, whose quarter-final showing at that year’s World Cup in Sweden had been the country’s best previous achievement.
But they will have to do without both Ben Davies and Aaron Ramsey, who set up two of the Wales goals, after they received bookings that ruled them out of the semi-final.
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots will face difficult questions about his failure to achieve more with one of his nation’s finest collections of footballers, who also fell in the last eight at the 2014 World Cup.
He was missing three of his four first-choice defenders — Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen through injury, Thomas Vermaelen through suspension — but with no other previous tournament-winners in this half of the draw, defeat represented a massive missed opportunity.
Heavy pre-match downpours in Lille heightened fears about the pitch, which was relaid just a week ago, but the slick playing surface held firm and provided the platform for an electrifying game.
Inside the first 10 minutes, Yannick Carrasco, Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard had all gone close for Belgium, while Romelu Lukaku failed to make telling contact with a deep Kevin De Bruyne corner.
Robson-Kanu headed over for Wales and Bale hit the side-netting, but in the 13th minute Belgium went ahead when Nainggolan met Hazard’s lay-off with a blistering 30-yard shot that whistled into the top-left corner.
- Williams joy -
Welsh indiscipline at the back was costing them as Davies, James Chester and Chris Gunter all picked up bookings, the former’s yellow card ruling him out of the semi-final.
But their reaction to falling behind was exemplary and after Neil Taylor had been denied by Thibaut Courtois, Williams met Ramsey’s right-wing corner with a thumping downward header to equalise.
The Swansea City centre-back, criticised for some shaky group-stage displays, was a picture of joy, racing down the touchline to embrace Coleman and the Wales coaches and substitutes.
The goal seemed to unsettle Belgium and Wales ended the first half on top, with Williams heading another Ramsey corner over the bar and Courtois fielding Bale’s low shot and a Robson-Kanu header.
Wilmots stiffened his midfield at half-time, sending on Marouane Fellaini for Carrasco, and his side made a flying start to the second period, with Lukaku, De Bruyne and Hazard all narrowly missing the target.
But it was Wales who scored next with a 55th-minute goal that lit up the tournament.
Ramsey’s lofted cross from the right found Robson-Kanu, who took Thomas Meunier, Fellaini and Jason Denayer out of the game with a sublime Cruyff turn before planting a shot past Courtois.
In a taut finish to the game, Fellaini and Ramsey also received suspension-incurring bookings, the latter tarnishing perhaps his best ever Wales performance with a needless handball.
Belgium huffed and puffed, Fellaini heading wide and Williams being very fortunate to avoid conceding a penalty for catching Nainggolan, before Vokes delivered the coup de grace with a stunning header from Gunter’s cross.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Up mayo
It’ll be close but Mayo by 2/3 points.
Kerry to help Mayo tomorrow – ie beating them so that they wont be in a position to lose 3 finals in a row
Yeah seriously. Mayo won’t be Dublin and it would be awful to lose three finals in a row. They’re actually better off losing tomorrow! lol
That’s right Petr – Kerry won’t fear Dublin one iota. They were extremely unlucky to lose the final 3 years ago and were leading by a point in the 69th minute of last year’s semi.
Yup. Kerry certainly won’t fear Dublin. That said, last year Dublin beat Kerry by seven points. That was the final score whatever way you slice or dice it. This Dublin team is something we haven’t seen before I think.
The current Dublin team doesn’t bear comparison with the Kerry team of the late 70s/early 80s, not yet anyway. To be considered a truly great team they will need to win at least 2 more all Ireland’s. The Tyrone team of 2003-2008 and Kerry between 2004- 2009 were superior units. Medals and trophies are what matters and Dublin still have a lot to achieve.
Yes I agree with that. What I’m saying is, I think they’re only getting going. None of those previous teams were putting teams away by 15 point margins. Well, let’s wait and see. Some great matches to come. :)
All those teams were putting teams away by 15 point margins. Dublin have been hugely impressive this season but let’s maintain perspective – Monaghan, Meath etc are very poor teams and it’s safe to assume that Dublin won’t be winning a semi or a final (assuming they are there) by such huge margins.
You lads are forgetting that this ‘great’ Dublin team only beat mayo by a point last year…
It’s a 70 min game you dope… They were also the first to score… If the ref blew it u then they would have won… How’s that for logic ???
“All those teams were putting teams away by 15 point margins.”
Eh, actually they weren’t.
Hope Mayo bate the shit out of them
Hope away!
I wonder who Mayo will be playing in the Final??????
There are related articles which are covering tomorrow’s Minor Semi final – so maybe you should check that out.
Come on Kerry best of luck.
Hon Mayo, Gooch is a massive loss, Mayo to win by a minimum of 3 points…
I have a feeling Kerry will be their usual snake in the grass selves and pull away with a 2/3 point win. Would love to see a Kerry Dublin final!
Kerry have come to this point very quietly. I think Mayo are not as strong as last year and they know it too. I think the doubt will kill them tomorrow.
Interesting the winning 2006 semi with Dublin is mentioned but not the total disaster the final was for them versus Kerry.
Kerry to win.
And maybe Donegal to beat Dublin….?
I hope your right jonny boy, I hope your right
Have a nice day at home pulling your plum, while we’re in Croke Park donal :)