Kazakhstan Holds Belgium to 1-1 Draw as Belgians Lose World Cup Qualification Opportunity

Basio badr

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Kazakhstan Holds Belgium to 1-1 Draw as Belgians Lose World Cup Qualification Opportunity

Belgium faced an unexpected challenge in their quest for World Cup qualification. The team was held to a 1-1 draw by Kazakhstan, which hindered their opportunity to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup ahead of their final match.

Match Overview

The fixture took place after Belgium had previously defeated Kazakhstan 6-0 in September. The Belgians entered this match with high expectations. However, the match took a surprising turn early on.

Key Events

Kazakhstan took the lead through 17-year-old Dastan Satpayev.
Belgium equalized with a goal from Hans Vanaken, assisted by Timothy Castagne.
Kazakhstan finished the match with 10 men after Islam Chesnokov was red-carded.

Kazakhstan’s Resilience

Despite being eliminated from qualification, Kazakhstan’s defense proved to be formidable. Goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov made several crucial saves to maintain the draw against Belgium. The team’s determination was evident as they held off a late surge from the Belgians seeking to secure automatic qualification.

Standings and Future Matches

Belgium remains at the top of Group J but faces pressure from pursuing teams. Following this draw, they hold a two-point lead over North Macedonia and are aware of the need to secure victory in their upcoming match against Liechtenstein.