Youri Tielemans got a goal and an assist for Belgium on Monday night, helping his nation clinch a thrilling, late 4-3 World Cup qualifying victory over Wales in Brussels.
The midfielder, who started the game wearing the captain’s armband alongside Aston Villa teammate Amadou Onana, doubled the Red Devils’ advantage with his 10th international goal on 19 minutes after Romelu Lukaku’s penalty had given them the lead four minutes prior.
Tielemans raced into the penalty area and turned Maxim De Cuyper’s pinpoint cutback high into the roof of the net, as Manchester City’s Jérémy Doku made it three shortly before the half-hour.
Wales responded, though, with goals from Harry Wilson (pen) and Sorba Thomas either side of the half-time break, before Brennan Johnson drew them level 21 minutes from time.
But up popped Tielemans with two minutes remaining to swing a ball to the back post for Kevin De Bruyne to turn home the winner, ensuring the Belgians would end the night third in Group J, four points off top with two games in hand. Both Tielemans and Onana played the full 90 minutes.
Earlier in the evening, there was a 76th Scotland cap for John McGinn, as the Tartan Army romped to a comfortable 4-0 victory away at Liechtenstein in Vaduz.
The Villa skipper started the game and completed 59 minutes, as Che Adams’ hat-trick helped secure the friendly triumph.
It was the third goal – scored by George Hirst just after the break – however, that McGinn had a hand in, his shot striking the foot of the post before Anthony Ralston’s follow-up cross was flicked into Hirst’s path by Adams, and his strike partner made no mistake for his first international goal from close range to make it 3-0.
