Bellingham Scores Late To Salvage Draw Against Belgium

(Getty Images)

A last minute strike from Jude Bellingham saved Gareth Southgate’s England from a second successive defeat at Wembley Stadium.

There were five changes from the weekend’s loss against Brazil, with three players making their full debuts for the Three Lions as Southgate looked to assess his players one final time ahead of the Euros in June.   

England started out the blocks quickly as West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen advanced on the right in the opening minute, delivered an inviting ball towards Brentford’s Ivan Toney, but his volley ricocheted off his arm.

Southgate’s injury list increased as Manchester City centre-back John Stones had to be replaced in the tenth minute with a reoccurrence of a groin problem.

It got worse for England as they went behind seconds later as Jordan Pickford’s clearance was intercepted by his Everton team-mate Andre Onana, he passed the ball to Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans’ who smartly fired the ball into the far right corner past the in-rushing Pickford.

The Three Lions responded well and were rewarded with a penalty on the quarter hour mark as Jan Vertonghen bought down Ivan Toney inside the box.

Toney stepped up, on his full debut and exactly a year to the day of his first cap, and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.

Ivan Toney nets his first England goal from the penalty spot (X)

Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku curling effort was parried away by Pickford before Zeno Debast almost gifted England the lead with a sliced clearance towards his own net.

Bowen thought he’d given England the lead with his first international goal as Phil Foden’s in-swinging corner was headed back across goal by Lewis Dunk to Bowen who directed the ball into the back of the net, but a prompt VAR check correctly ruled the goal out for offside.

Bellingham was found in space late in the first half but blazed his shot over the woodwork.

Another defensive error gifted Belgium the lead again as Dunk’s poor clearance sent Romelu Lukaku towards goal, he curled an inviting cross towards Tielemans who headed in from yards out.

Romelu Lukaku capitalises on Lewis Dunk's mistake in the build-up to Belgium's second goal (The Mirror)

As the first half drew to a close, Belgium’s defence stood strong with strikes from Bellingham and Bowen well held by Matz Sels.

It was a duplicate start to the second half with Toney carving the first chance of the half, but his effort was tipped round the post by Sels.

Substitute Joe Gomez sent a chipped cross to the far post towards Bellingham but could only convert his header inches wide of the post.

Just after the hour mark, Toney’s control from Bellingham’s cross, fell nicely to debutant Kobbie Mainoo but his powerful effort was well met by Sels.

Toney turned provider once again as he knocked the ball to Bowen but his effort was well blocked by Belgium’s defence.

Belgium looked to extend their lead as Orel Mangala laid the ball back to Fulham’s Timothy Castagne but his long-range shot was deflected wide of the post.

Bowen plays the ball to the advancing Foden but his effort curls wide of the near post.

England continued to pressurise Belgium with Foden and Bellingham seeing close-range shots well blocked.

The Three Lions finally equalised in the 95th minute as Watkins kept the ball in, James Maddison took over, calmly played the ball towards the vacant Bellingham in the box who curled the ball into the bottom right corner.

Speaking after the draw, England Manager, Gareth Southgate said, “I thought we controlled the game, the possession stats show us that.”

“We created a lot more chances tonight, which was a pleasing reaction from the weekend.”

“We did concede two poor goals tonight, we were vulnerable in transition, but I thought with the character we showed, we deserved to take something from the game.”

“We are very happy with the squad; we have some exciting players, there are players that we don’t know if they will be available or not yet but there is still a lot of the season to play.”

England XI: Pickford, Konsa, Stones (sub 10min, Gomez), Dunk, Chilwell, Rice, Mainoo (sub 74min, Maddison), Foden, Bellingham, Bowen (sub 80min, Gordon), Toney (sub 80min, Watkins).

Unused Subs: Ramsdale, Gallagher, Henderson, Branthwaite, Lewis, Rashford, Palmer.

Belgium XI: Sels, Theate (sub 71min, Vranckx), Vertonghen, Debast (sub 82min, Faes), Castagne, Tielemans (sub 71min Meunier), Onana, Mangala (sub 82min, Openda), Doku, Trossard (sub 60min, Lukebakio), Lukaku (sub 82min, Batshuayi).

Unused Subs: Kaminski, Bodart, Deman, Bakayoko, Vermeeren, De Winter.

Half Time: England 1-2 Belgium

Full Time: England 2-2 Belgium

Attendance: 80,733

Referee: Sebastian Gishamer