Belgium recovered from an early Arda Güler free-kick to beat Türkiye 2-1 in Izmir on Thursday, November 12, keeping their UEFA Nations League campaign alive and leaving the hosts without a point after five Group A1 matches. Kevin De Bruyne equalised in the 27th minute before Charles De Ketelaere scored three minutes later to complete a rapid turnaround.
The defeat was particularly painful for Türkiye because it came in Sergen Yalçın’s first match as national-team head coach. The result confirmed that Türkiye will finish bottom of the group and drop from League A, while Belgium moved to nine points and remained in contention for a place in the quarter-finals.
Güler’s Free-Kick Puts Türkiye Ahead
Türkiye started with energy and took the lead in the 20th minute when Güler curled a left-footed free-kick into the top-left corner. The Real Madrid midfielder had won the set-piece himself after being fouled in the attacking half, and his strike left Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens with little chance.
The goal lifted the atmosphere at Gürsel Aksel Stadium and gave the hosts hope of ending a difficult run in the competition. Türkiye had lost their previous four group matches and needed a strong performance under Yalçın to keep their League A status alive.
Güler remained one of Türkiye’s most dangerous players throughout the match. He created opportunities, carried the ball into attacking areas and tested Lammens after the interval. However, the hosts were unable to turn their early advantage into sustained control.
Belgium Score Twice In Three Minutes
Belgium responded quickly. Jérémy Doku drove down the left flank and delivered a low cross that De Bruyne met with a first-time finish in the 27th minute. The equaliser changed the momentum of the match and exposed the difficulty Türkiye were having in tracking Belgium’s movement around the penalty area.
Three minutes later, Belgium moved in front. Diego Moreira’s effort was saved by goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, but Maxim De Cuyper collected the rebound and set up De Ketelaere for a close-range finish. The two goals gave Belgium a 2-1 half-time lead and forced Türkiye to chase the match.
Belgium’s goalkeeper Lammens then became increasingly important. Türkiye pushed for an equaliser after the break, but the Manchester United goalkeeper made several saves, including a late stop from Hakan Çalhanoğlu in stoppage time. The visitors also threatened on the counterattack, with De Ketelaere and De Bruyne continuing to create problems for the home defence.
Türkiye’s Relegation Confirmed
The loss left Türkiye with zero points from five matches and confirmed their relegation from Nations League League A. The final group fixture against France on November 15 will still provide an opportunity to finish the campaign with a positive performance, but the team can no longer escape the bottom position.
For Belgium, the victory moved the team to nine points and kept them in the race for a quarter-final place. Italy and France were level on 10 points after their meeting on Thursday, meaning Belgium’s final match against Italy on November 15 will be decisive. The Red Devils need a strong result and will also be watching the outcome of France’s game against Türkiye.
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Belgium’s comeback was a demonstration of attacking efficiency. The visitors did not need a long period of dominance to turn the match around; two well-executed moves in three minutes were enough to change the result. De Bruyne’s composure and De Ketelaere’s positioning showed the value of experience and movement in the final third.
Türkiye’s performance was more complicated than the scoreline suggests. Güler’s free-kick and the team’s second-half pressure showed that the side has individual quality, but defensive lapses and a lack of control after taking the lead undermined the effort. The team’s five consecutive defeats point to structural problems that a coaching change alone may not resolve.
Belgium now have a clear opportunity to keep their Nations League hopes alive against Italy. The result in Izmir provides momentum, but the next match will require the same defensive concentration that Lammens and the back line showed late in the game. For Türkiye, the focus must shift to rebuilding confidence and preparing for promotion back to League A rather than treating relegation as a temporary setback.
Sources And Further Reading
- UEFA: Nations League Matchday 5 Highlights — official matchday results and Group A1 context.
- Anadolu Agency: Türkiye Lose 2-1 To Belgium In Sergen Yalçın’s Debut — detailed match report, goals and post-match context.
- Sky Sports: Türkiye 1-2 Belgium — Match Report And Statistics — match timeline, statistics and scorers.
- Türkiye Today: Belgium Come From Behind To Beat Türkiye 2-1 — match analysis and the impact on Group A1.
- The Guardian: Nations League Round-Up — Belgium Beat Türkiye — broader context for the group standings.
- Reuters: Italy Beat France As Nations League Group A1 Tightens — the wider race for the quarter-finals.