BRUSSELS: Wales narrowly lost a World Cup roller-coaster 4-3 against Belgium in Brussels when their recovery from 3-0 down was punctured by a late Kevin de Bruyne strike.

Belgium were 3-0 up after just 27 minutes, Romelu Lukaku putting them in front from the penalty spot before Youri Tielemans stylishly finished off an incisive team move.

When Jeremy Doku struck the Belgians’ third, Wales were staring into the abyss of a first loss since a 4-0 thrashing by Slovakia exactly one year earlier had cost previous manager Rob Page his job.

But the visitors responded brilliantly after Harry Wilson’s penalty moments before half-time gave them a glimmer of hope.

An improbable comeback loomed after Wilson’s cross set up Sorba Thomas to fire in his first Wales goal, and then Brennan Johnson headed in an equaliser to spark spectacular celebrations in the away end.

Yet just as Welsh fans were dreaming of another famous result against the nation they so memorably beat in a Euro 2016 quarter-final – particularly after VAR had disallowed a Lukpedaku second – De Bruyne popped up at the back post to score.

Wales thus slip down to second place in Group J, replaced at the summit by North Macedonia following their win in Kazakhstan earlier on Monday.

Italy handed sacked coach Luciano Spalletti a winning exit by 2-0 at home to Moldova on goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso.

Spalletti announced his own dismissal on Sunday following Italy’s 3-0 loss in Norway in their opening group game on Friday but took charge for one final time at the Stadio Citta del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia.

They struggled early on before Raspadori struck five minutes before the break and Cambiaso doubled the lead five minutes after the interval but they failed to build on their two-goal cushion.

Norway, who won 1-0 in Estonia with Erling Haaland netting the winner, top Group I on 12 points from four games, with Israel on six points after three matches while Italy are third with three points from their two games.

Scotland won 4-0 away to Liechtenstein thanks to a hat-trick from Che Adams to make up a little ground after last weekend’s 3-1 home defeat by Iceland.

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