Deadly De Bruyne gives Belgium victory over Wales

BRUSSELS, September 22 - Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne scores a goal and sets up the second,

[{"selector":"#anim-16f3901f-2726-4d23-b797-2f6cece69b80","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a6aa64f-61bb-4cd6-b1c9-2f698542ba76","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

As they took advantage of a strong first half to beat Wales 2–1 in their Nations League A Group 4 clash at King Bowdoin Stadium. Thursday.

[{"selector":"#anim-5b11754b-b759-4681-aef6-19a9291534f4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d599aaa7-3ec5-40eb-a172-a285aa9e4003","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Wales were lucky not to be more than 2-0 down at the break after goals by De Bruyne and Michi Batsuyai and several chances,

[{"selector":"#anim-b4dcd3a2-9cf4-4c93-a14a-93ec3c71bc9c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc467f87-800e-4703-97f5-7076d8a00428","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

But the visitors halved the deficit in the second period, when Kiefer Moore led from close range.

[{"selector":"#anim-a76a56c9-8078-4d9a-9c51-7c5ecac8b2b3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-686316f7-c15b-462e-9889-d02049ac4391","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Second-placed Belgium have 10 points from five matches and will travel to Amsterdam on Sunday.

[{"selector":"#anim-ad9c0bd4-8271-49e4-8af4-c677e8d1c8fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ffac336a-3027-46da-be74-79bf76a33932","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

They would have to win by three goals to overtake the Netherlands.

[{"selector":"#anim-176f411c-4621-420c-bc66-103e6947766f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8142efb7-566e-47bc-8943-a6bc9f0d8cf7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Those who have 13 points finish at the top of the group, and qualify for the next year's Nations League semi-finals.

[{"selector":"#anim-569ad343-8d67-44fa-aed7-620247c6309c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-123b3dbc-0ffd-4f56-b3f0-fbad95d97fac","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Wales have a home game against Poland on Sunday.

[{"selector":"#anim-5f5a4b6a-c0dd-4378-995c-eb3e52967dc7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95956855-f80b-4a17-94c5-0a4852b43992","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

They would have to win by three goals to overtake the Netherlands.

[{"selector":"#anim-140fdb30-2d78-4b36-ba66-2031599a2f1b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c683258-9719-4a41-beea-5b517cc1c4e1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]