England hosted Belgium on 26 March in another international friendly match after Brazil beat them 1-0 on Saturday. British fans hoped their team would defeat the visitors in the tough match. Unfortunately, England’s national football team, the Three Lions narrowly missed losing to Belgium as Jude Bellingham scored an equalizer in stoppage time. His goal helped England draw 2-2 with Belgium.
Youri Tielemans’ Early Opener
Kevin De Bruyne wasn’t in Belgium’s lineup as he is nursing a groin injury. Nevertheless, his team started piling pressure on England once the game kicked off. Jordan Pickford attempted to make a cross-field pass but Amadou Onana got the ball. The Everton player made a cross to Youri Tielemans who took a quick shot into the bottom corner and scored Belgium’s first goal.
Ivan Toney Converts a Penalty After Jude Bellingham Makes an Assist
Tielemans’ opener prompted England to increase their counterattacks seeking an equalizer. Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United’s star, made his international debut for England and was determined to make it memorable. Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, and Kyle Walker’s absence on the pitch offered Mainoo an opportunity to play against Belgium.
Mainoo is known to make abrupt shoulder drops and turn in opposite directions hence evading his markers. He used the signature move to leave Tielemans and passed the ball to Jude Bellingham, who crossed it to Ivan Toney. The latter was behind Jan Vertonghen, Belgium’s defender, and he fouled Toney. England got a penalty in the 17th minute and Toney converted it, hence equalizing the score.
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Tielemans’s Stunning Double
Mainoo duped Onana and got the ball before passing it to Bellingham. Unfortunately, Bellingham curled it high hence forcing England to wait longer for their second goal. Tielemans made a long cross to Lewis Dunk who missed the ball despite stretching his leg. Romelu Lukaku got the ball and made a spectacular cross, but Tielemans converted a header and scored his second goal in the 36th minute.
Phil Foden started building momentum on the left as he crossed the field with the ball, hoping to equalize for the Three Lions. Ivan Toney tried twice to break Belgium’s defensive line but failed. This prompted Foden to make a long shot that an opponent blocked hence ending the first half with Belgium having a 2-1 lead.
Jude Bellingham Rescues England
Each team was cautious not to concede in the second half. England’s fans started panicking in the 75th minute as their team was still lagging by a goal. The score hadn’t changed in the 90th minute and the referee added four more minutes.
Belgium threatened England in the 92nd minute when Jeremy Doku surged forward and passed the ball to Dodi Lukebakio, who had penetrated England’s defense line. Luckily, Lukebakio fired high, relieving England’s tension.
Dunk got a header in stoppage time and directed the ball to James Maddison. The latter made an accurate pass to Ollie Watkins who crossed it to Maddison. He made an amazing cut-back and shot the ball to Bellingham, who took a shot with a side foot and netted in a much-needed equalizer.
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