In an unexpected turn of events during the World Cup qualifying match between Wales and Belgium on Monday night, play was briefly halted at Cardiff City Stadium when a rat made its way onto the field. The score was 2-1 in favor of Belgium in the 66th minute when the game was paused to attend to an injured Belgian player. Before play could resume, the players had to wait for a rat to be escorted off the pitch by replacement Brennan Johnson.
Social media buzzed with comments about the unusual interruption, with one observer noting, “Seen it all. Brennan Johnson escorts a rat off the pitch.” Another cleverly referenced Wales defender Joe Rodon as “Joe Rodent.” Despite the distraction, Wales couldn’t maintain their lead, eventually conceding a third goal after a Kevin De Bruyne penalty kick.
Rodon had initially put Wales ahead, but Belgium responded with two goals before the break, putting Wales at a disadvantage for the rest of the match. De Bruyne’s second penalty further complicated Wales’ chances, ultimately resulting in a 4-2 victory for Belgium. The defeat deals a blow to Wales’ hopes of securing automatic qualification for the upcoming tournament, leaving their fate dependent on the outcomes of other matches.