Wales smash Belgium to reach Euro 2016 semi-finals
WALES 3
(Ashley Williams 30, Hal Robson-Kanu 55, Sam Vokes 85)
BELGIUM 1
(Radja Nainggolan 13)
In defiance of Brexit, the Welsh are the glorious, rebellious upstarts who refuse to leave Europe.
Chris Coleman's fire-breathing, odds-defying, Belgian-eating Dragons are in the semi-finals of Euro 2016, the final four, the classic quartet of their continent.
Their extraordinary 3-1 victory against Belgium here in Lille on Saturday morning (July 2, Singapore time) was almost as crazy as Hal Robson-Kanu's miraculous goal.
His finish was an uplifting moment of pure genius, a strike that defines Wales' participation at this tournament.
History is already theirs, but they're not done yet. Reaching the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time is already the stuff of the daftest Welsh dreams.
But coach Coleman issued a nationwide order before kickoff: Don't stop believing in his dream weavers.
His brilliant battlers are blessed with a mental tenacity and bloody-minded defiance that could guide them to Paris next Sunday.
Only a fool would write off these Boyos now.
Two hours before kickoff, a miracle seemed unlikely when the heavens opened in Lille, lashing an already suspect surface.
The Stade Pierre-Mauroy pitch has not been a popular one at Euro 2016 and groundsmen were still frantically filling holes in the pockmarked turf minutes ahead of the first whistle.
Obviously, the Welsh and Belgian supporters had painted the town red earlier in the afternoon and the stadium was no different, but the predominance of black and yellow streaks revealed who had the edge.
The Belgian border is just 100km from the stadium and it showed.
Belgium practically had home advantage and almost went ahead after six minutes.
Wayne Hennessey saved well, the follow-up was blocked on the line and Eden Hazard's rebound was deflected over the bar. Chaos reigned in the rain.
When the first goal inevitably came in the 12th minute, the Welsh resistance threatened to implode.
Goals of this magnitude crush the spirit.
The ball was slipped to Radja Nainggolan, in a seemingly innocuous position 25 metres from goal. But he launched a missile with the accuracy of an archer.
The rising, rasping drive flew into the top corner, leaving poor Hennessey grasping hopelessly at thin air, like a man trying to catch raindrops.
The bouncing Belgians were singing in the rain. The Welsh were at risk of drowning.
But Belgium's persistent tendency to sit back and admire their handiwork almost allowed Wales to snatch an unlikely equaliser after 26 minutes.
Aaron Ramsey's neat footwork allowed him to pick a lock in the penalty box and slide a pass to Neil Taylor, standing just 10 yards from goal.
The full-back's strike was firm and precise, but Thibaut Courtois showed off his stupendous feline-like reflexes.
Wales sensed uncertainty and Belgium failed to heed the warning, throwing away their early lead in the 31st minute.
Having won a corner, a cross was floated towards the penalty sport where an unmarked Ashley Williams, the definitive Captain Fantastic, rose like a nosy meerkat to steer a header into the bottom corner.
Cue pandemonium. The Dragons raced to the halfway line, burying Coleman and his staff in a celebratory huddle. Gareth Bale threw himself on top.
Suddenly, the euphoric Welsh were floating above the drizzle.
As expected, their use of Taylor and Chris Gunter stretched the play and kept the ball away from Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne, but both sides countered and attacked consistently on the fast surface.
At half time, they were rewarded with a raucous ovation.
Marouane Fellaini replaced Yannick Carrasco at the interval and the Belgians rediscovered their attacking impetus with De Bruyne and Hazard both going close.
And then, the form guide, common sense, logic and even the naked eye all appeared to go out the window with one decisive, delightful flick of the boot.
A journeyman footballer, a hardworking pro currently with no club, put his country ahead with a Cruyff turn.
In the 55th minute, Ramsey galloped a full 50m and squared a cross towards Robson-Kanu. The 27-year-old former Swindon loanee had his back to goal, crowded out by defenders.
And he lost them all with a move that works only in most footballers' dreams.
He collected the pass and then swept the ball between his feet, a textbook Cruyff turn, a hot-shoe shuffle of the highest order that left his markers sliding towards the Belgian border.
And then, the coolest man in Lille buried the finish low and true past Courtois.
The Welsh were suddenly running across clouds, their fans quickly reminding the old enemy how delirious the situation was.
"Are you watching Eng-ger-land?" they cried.
Who cared? The rest of the world was and it was captivated by the miracle in the making.
Robson-Kanu earned a standing ovation when he was substituted. His replacement, Sam Vokes, earned Wales a place in the final four.
In the 86th minute, Gunter raced away down the right flank and floated a cross towards the substitute who sent a bullet of a header into the far corner.
The Welsh screamed, not cheered. They literally screamed, a stunning primal mixture of joy and relief.
And the greatest story of Euro 2016 completed its finest chapter yet.
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