Despite a dominating opening from the Red Devils culminating in Radja Nainggolan’s stunning first time strike after 12 minutes, the spirited Welshmen rallied and turned the game on its head to send the jubilant Dragons and their fans careering into the last four.
De Bruyne, with 22 chances created in the tournament prior to Friday’s game (two more than anyone else), had a fairly quiet evening by his extremely high standards, but was typically menacing when given space.
City youngster Denayer was given his first start of the tournament by coach Marc Wilmots and took his place alongside Jordan lukaku at the heart of the Belgium defence.
The Belgian lead lasted just 17 minutes before Ashley Williams’ towering header levelled up the game and from then on, Wales never looked back.
The Red Devils huffed and puffed in the early moments of the second half but never truly threatened Wayne Hennessey before the Welsh dream turned reality following a stunning goal from Hal Robson-Kanu.
The winger, currently unattached to a club following his stint at Reading last season produced a Roy of the Rovers moment, complete with Cruff turn to out-fox the Belgian defence before slotting past Thibaut Courtios.
Burnley’s Sam Vokes sealed a magnificent evening for the Welsh and set-up a dream Semi Final with Portugal – a final four tie nobody would have predicted at the start of the tournament.
