Kevin De Bruyne denied Wales an incredible comeback as his late strike gave Belgium a 4-3 win to inflict Craig Bellamy's first defeat as manager.
The 33-year-old had once called this fixture boring after the two nations faced each other nine times across a decade - but there was nothing dull about this epic of a World Cup qualifier.
Belgium raced into a 3-0 lead inside half an hour, beginning with Romelu Lukaku's penalty after Brennan Johnson was harshly penalised for a handball. The forward held his nerve during an inexplicably long four-minute VAR check before finally slotting home.
Youri Tielemans fired in a second two minutes later before Jeremy Doku cut in from the left and fired across Karl Darlow to give Belgium a three-goal cushion and leave Wales shellshocked.
The visitors had enjoyed chances themselves but had been cut to shreds defensively by their inability to cope with Belgium's forward movement.
They earned a lifeline for their attacking intent on the stroke of half-time courtesy of another generous penalty shout when Mats Sels was adjudged to have fouled Chris Mepham, leaving Harry Wilson to reduce the arrears.
That gave Bellamy's side a slither of hope which became all the more real when Sorba Thomas finished off Wilson's pinpoint cross-field pass at the back post seven minutes into the second half.
Belgium continued to create chances but looked increasingly vulnerable defensively, and Wales' equaliser felt an inevitability by the time it came.
Again Wilson and Thomas were involved with the latter's header leaving Johnson to nod home and complete a comeback which would have given French Open winner Carlos Alcaraz a run for his money.
At that point, Wales were well on top but Belgium's attacking quality remained a threat and again proved too much to handle when Lukaku's deflected effort appeared to put them back in front late on - only for another long VAR check to rule the ball had marginally gone out of play in the build-up.
There was consternation in the home ranks when the decision was confirmed but it was soon forgotten when De Bruyne popped up moments later to steer home Tielemans' cross at the back post with two minutes remaining.
This time, there was no Wales comeback as Bellamy's unbeaten start ended in heroic defeat to allow North Macedonia to sneak top spot in Group J.
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