Belgium U21

Match report

Belgium U21 secured a 1-0 victory over Wales U21 in Group 20 of the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualification on 29 September 2026. The hosts took the lead inside the opening ten minutes and held firm despite a Welsh resurgence after a red card for D. Cox.

N. Bassette had the game won inside twenty minutes when he finished his chance in the seventh minute. To be fair, the rest of the half belonged to Belgium, who dominated possession and created more clear-cut opportunities. The visitors could not muster a single shot on target for the entire match.

And here's the thing about the turning point — D. Cox received his second yellow card in quick succession, then a straight red, in the fortieth minute. Wales had already seen Cox book at thirty-seven minutes, and Bisiwu picked up a caution shortly after. By then Belgium were comfortable enough to make six substitutions at sixty-five minutes, bringing on Vermant, Nyakuhwa, Biancheri, Agius, and two others.

The statistics tell the story without embellishment. Belgium held 65 per cent possession and registered five shots on target compared to Wales' zero. The hosts completed 141 attacks while the visitors managed 95. Belgium's shot accuracy stood at 0.42, while Wales could not find the target at all.

The result leaves Belgium top of the group with 13 points from six games, four wins and one draw. Wales sit fourth with six points from two victories and four defeats. The gap between them widens, and Wales will need to find consistency if they are to recover from this run of losses.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 65 – 35

Shots on target 5 – 0

Shots off target 7 – 1

Attacks 141 – 95

⚽ 7' N. Bassette — Goal 🟨 35' N. Bassette — Yellow card 🟨 37' D. Cox — Yellow card 🟨 40' D. Cox — Yellow card 🟥 40' D. Cox — Red card 🟨 41' J. Bisiwu — Yellow card ⇄ 65' J. Bisiwu — Substitution ⇄ 65' N. Bassette — Substitution ⇄ 65' R. Vermant — Substitution ⇄ 65' T. Nyakuhwa — Substitution ⇄ 65' G. Biancheri — Substitution ⇄ 65' C. Agius — Substitution ⇄ 76' A. Piedfort — Substitution 🟨 80' O. Bostock — Yellow card 🟨 83' S. Mbangula — Yellow card ⇄ 88' R. Kpakio — Substitution 🟨 90' L. Noubi — Yellow card 🟨 90' G. Nevett — Yellow card

Match events

7' 1:0 Belgium U21 Goal N. Bassette assist: R. Vermant
35' 1:0 Belgium U21 Yellow card N. Bassette
37' 1:0 Wales U21 Yellow card D. Cox
40' 1:0 Wales U21 Yellow card D. Cox
40' 1:0 Wales U21 Red card D. Cox
41' 1:0 Belgium U21 Yellow card J. Bisiwu
65' 1:0 Belgium U21 Substitution J. Bisiwu off: R. Mirisola
65' 1:0 Belgium U21 Substitution N. Bassette off: C. Lokesa
65' 1:0 Belgium U21 Substitution R. Vermant off: T. De Vlieger
65' 1:0 Wales U21 Substitution T. Nyakuhwa off: A. Williams
65' 1:0 Wales U21 Substitution G. Biancheri off: J. Cotterill
65' 1:0 Wales U21 Substitution C. Agius off: O. Bostock
76' 1:0 Belgium U21 Substitution A. Piedfort off: N. Fernandez
80' 1:0 Wales U21 Yellow card O. Bostock
83' 1:0 Belgium U21 Yellow card S. Mbangula
88' 1:0 Wales U21 Substitution R. Kpakio off: L. Scarlett
90' 1:0 Belgium U21 Yellow card L. Noubi
90' 1:0 Wales U21 Yellow card G. Nevett

Statistics

65 Possession, % 35

5 Shots on target 0

7 Shots off target 1

141 Attacks 95

3 Corners 4

13 Free kicks 16

5 Offsides 2

4 Yellow cards 4

0 Red cards 1

4 Goal kicks 11

18 Throw-ins 21

All statistics

0 Blocked shots 1

0.42 Shot accuracy 0

Recent form

WLWLWW

Recent matches

All team matches

Wales U21

LWLWLL