Bellingham Rescues England with Late Equaliser Against Belgium

Jude Bellingham’s dramatic last-gasp equaliser salvaged a draw for England against Belgium in a friendly encounter at Wembley Stadium, sparing Gareth Southgate’s side from a second consecutive home defeat.

After suffering a loss to Brazil, England found themselves in a precarious situation once again as defensive errors threatened to derail their efforts against Belgium. However, Bellingham’s late heroics ensured they salvaged a point in a thrilling contest.

The match got off to an intense start, with Belgium taking the lead after just 11 minutes when England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s rare error led to Youri Tielemans finding the back of the net. Despite the setback, England responded swiftly, with Ivan Toney converting a penalty to level the scores six minutes later.

Jarrod Bowen had a goal disallowed for offside, but another defensive lapse saw Belgium regain their advantage before halftime, courtesy of Tielemans’ second goal of the match.

In the second half, England continued to press forward, with 18-year-old debutant Kobbie Mainoo impressing in midfield alongside Declan Rice. Despite missed opportunities from Bellingham and Phil Foden, England’s persistence paid off when Bellingham fired home a late equaliser with virtually the last kick of the game.

Reflecting on the match, Bellingham highlighted the importance of avoiding back-to-back defeats and praised the team’s resilience in securing the draw. Southgate also commended Bellingham’s competitive spirit and hailed the team’s overall performance against a strong Belgian side.