As Halloween approaches, an unexpected interruption startled fans during the World Cup qualifying match between Wales and Belgium when a rat scurried onto the pitch.
Shortly after the 60-minute mark on Monday, the small intruder made its way across the immaculate Cardiff City Stadium turf, briefly halting the game. Despite Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ efforts to catch it, it was ultimately Brennan Johnson who managed to guide the rodent off the field.
The rat’s brief cameo concluded as it slipped behind an advertising board, carefully ushered out by the Tottenham Hotspur forward. Following this unusual delay, Belgium seized control of Group J with a 4-2 victory, dealing a setback to Wales’ hopes of direct World Cup qualification.
Wales started brightly, with centre-back Joe Rodon netting just seven minutes in, marking his second consecutive qualifying match goal at home in Cardiff.
However, their advantage was short-lived. Kevin De Bruyne capitalized on a handball by Ethan Ampadu to level the score, and Belgium soon took the lead when Thomas Meunier finished off a swift counter-attack.
De Bruyne converted a second penalty in the 76th minute after another handball infringement, extending Belgium’s lead. Substitute Nathan Broadhead then rekindled Welsh hopes with a goal, but Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard quickly restored Belgium’s two-goal margin, effectively sealing the win.
With this result, Wales now find themselves four points behind Belgium in Group J and appear to be locked in a contest with North Macedonia-who drew 1-1 at home against Kazakhstan-for the second qualifying spot. For Craig Bellamy’s squad, the playoff route in March looks to be the most viable path to the World Cup.
