Jude Bellingham netted a last-gasp leveller for England on Tuesday night against Belgium, with his 95th-minute strike preventing back-to-back losses for the Three Lions.
The hosts fell behind after just 11 minutes at Wembley when a huge mistake from Jordan Pickford gifted Youri Tielemans the game’s opening goal, though it was quickly cancelled out by a nerveless penalty from Ivan Toney.
Tielemans restored Belgium’s lead not long before half-time but England created a host of chances in the second period before Bellingham finally found a breakthrough with virtually the last kick of the game to secure a 2-2 draw.
Gareth Southgate made some notable changes from the team that lost to Brazil on Saturday, with Kobbie Mainoo handed his first start and Toney picked to lead the line.
England were dealt an early double blow with John Stones forced off after just 10 minutes, before a re-jigged back-line conceded in rather calamitous fashion just a minute later.
Pickford tried to play out from the back but sent his pass straight to a blue shirt – with Belgium wearing their new, Tintin-inspired kit – and Tielemans cleverly rolled his shot into the bottom corner, with Pickford’s momentum sending him speeding past the ball as he tried to recover.
England had looked quite bright going forward in the early exchanges and levelled the scores not long after conceding, with a gliding, slaloming run from Mainoo creating the initial opening.
The Manchester United teenager fed Bellingham, who slipped in Toney, but the forward was brought down by veteran centre-back Jan Vertonghen before he could get a shot off. Toney stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick and, just as he does for Brentford, slotted it home with aplomb.
England took control after that, with Belgium very nearly scoring an own goal after a low, devilish cross from Bellingham, while Jarrod Bowen thought he had his first international goal but it was ruled out for offside.
But there were frailties in England’s makeshift back-line and they were exposed when Lewis Dunk failed to cut out a hopeful long ball forward from Tielemans, falling over as he attempted to clear it.
Romelu Lukaku picked up the scraps and then played a stunning trivela cross to the back post for Tielemans, who had continued his run, and he had a simple diving header to reclaim the lead.
Bellingham and Bowen both had opportunities to level the scores once again in stoppage time, while England put together a number of silky attacks after the restart. Toney hit the side netting with one effort, Foden saw a goal-bound shot blocked and Bellingham then wasted a great chance to head home.
At the other end of the pitch, Jeremy Doku was causing all manner of problems down the left flank, but it was his Manchester City team-mate Phil Foden who was dictating proceedings and threading needles. Another lovely move started by the playmaker saw Bowen again go close.
Another mazy run from Foden might have produced a penalty, but play was allowed to continue and a deep cross found Mainoo at the back post, but his half volley was pushed away by Matz Sels.
Substitute James Maddison brought some fresh invention off the bench and a line-breaking pass forward found Bowen, who showed quick feet before releasing Foden, but his cross-cum-shot drifted agonisingly past the far post and just out of reach of Bellingham.
England had a few more half chances late on but it was Dodi Lukebakio who missed the best chance of the dying embers after more great work from Doku, skying his effort high over the bar with only Pickford to beat.
Just as it looked like Belgium would cling on for their first-ever win on English soil, a cute pass from Maddison found the lurking Bellingham just inside the box who composed himself and fired into the bottom corner as England finally grabbed the goal their good play had merited.
Although England were very nearly beaten, Southgate will take plenty of positives from the performance with his side racking up 19 shots and enjoying 63 per cent possession against a side ranked number four in the world.
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