Goals from Premier League defenders Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen earned Belgium a 2-0 win over 10-man Wales in their World Cup qualifying opener at the Millennium Stadium tonight.
The hosts were dealt a blow when Joe Allen was ruled out with illness prior to kickoff, with manager Chris Coleman already without injured regulars Craig Bellamy and Neil Taylor.
Dave Edwards and Simon Church had early half-chances for Wales, with Gareth Bale providing both missed opportunities.
Hopes of a Welsh victory were dashed when James Collins was sent off for a clumsy 25th-minute lunge on Guillaume Gillet.
From then on, Belgium dominated possession and established their dominance through Kompany's 40th-minute header, which came from an Eden Hazard corner.
Tottenham Hotspur winger Bale continued to prove a threat and forced a smart save from Thibaut Courtois with his dipping free kick.
Belgium's second goal came from their own Spurs set-piece specialist as Vertonghen struck powerfully past Boaz Myhill on 82 minutes to put the result beyond doubt.
Joe Fish
