Real Madrid’s Arda Güler put Turkey ahead in the 20th minute, curling in a superb long-range free-kick to hand the hosts a major lift.
Veteran Kevin De Bruyne hit back fast, levelling for Belgium in the 27th minute. Charles De Ketelaere then put the visitors in front in the 31st minute.
The match matters hugely to Turkey, playing their first official test under new coach Sergen Yalçın. He took charge as successor to the Italian Vincenzo Montella, who left his post following a run of poor results at the start of the team’s campaign.
Turkey’s first four matches in Group One, in the top tier of the UEFA Nations League, were a disaster. They lost 1-0 to France, then went down 4-1 to Italy, before a 3-0 defeat to Belgium and another loss to Italy, this time 3-1.
Those results left Turkey rock bottom of the group without a single point. Their net had been breached 11 times while they managed only two goals, piling pressure on the previous staff and ultimately forcing Montella out.
Yalçın wants to restore some balance, and he can lean on a crop of young talents led by Güler, one of the team’s most dangerous attacking threats. Alongside him sits Inter Milan’s Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who brings huge international experience.
Belgium arrive with very different ambitions. They are chasing a place in the knockout rounds after two wins from their first four games, with both defeats coming against France.
Coach Marc van Bommel trusts a group of experienced players, chief among them Napoli’s De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans. Jérémy Doku also returns to the squad after recovering from injury.
History adds an extra edge. When the sides last met, on 2 October, Belgium ran out comfortable 3-0 winners thanks to De Bruyne, who struck twice in the 10th and 60th minutes, with Romelu Lukaku adding the third.
Turkey, then, are desperate to set the record straight against Belgium and end their miserable run in the competition. The visitors simply want the three points to keep their qualification hopes alive.
This edition of the UEFA Nations League means a great deal to Turkey, playing in the top tier for the first time in their history after promotion from the second. The reward was a brutal group alongside France, Italy and Belgium.
Belgium, meanwhile, are trying to reclaim their place among Europe’s elite after finishing third in their group last time out. Turkey, for their part, are desperate to dodge direct relegation, a tall order given the hole dug by four straight defeats.