MX23RW : Monday, December 23 13:48:43| >> :600:2262558:2262558:
[monks data]
Belgium national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Mar 28, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Cyprus national football team

5-0

Fellaini (21', 66'), Benteke (35'), Hazard (67'), Batshuayi (80')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Five-star Belgium dismantle hapless Cyprus

Belgium thrash Cyprus 5-0 in their Euro 2016 Group B qualifier at the Stade Roi Baudouin.

Belgium dismantled a hapless Cyprus side 5-0 in this evening's Euro 2016 Group B qualifier at the Stade Roi Baudouin, with Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini netting a brace.

The hosts began brightly and threatened in the eighth minute when Toby Alderweireld sent a dangerous cross towards Axel Witsel, but Giorgos Merkis was able to do enough to put the midfielder off.

Just four minutes later, Belgium came within a whisker of opening the scoring as Eden Hazard played in Kevin De Bruyne, who swivelled before firing towards the bottom corner, but goalkeeper Anastasios Kissas was on hand to make a smart save.

The Red Devils were dominant in the opening stages and duly took the lead 21 minutes in as Christian Benteke and Witsel kept the ball on the edge of the box before laying it off to Fellaini, who turned well and lashed home.

Cyprus simply could not contain Belgium and it would not be long before they conceded a second goal, with Hazard's cross in the 35th minute falling perfectly to Benteke, who made no mistake to nod into the net from close range.

Belgium picked up from where they left off after the restart, but their opponents were able to hold off the Red Devils until past the hour by dropping deep and defending stoutly.

The hosts would breach Cyprus's defence once again, however, as Fellaini struck his second of the night in the 66th minute thanks to a vicious curling effort from outside the area that rippled the top corner of the net.

No sooner had the visitors kicked off that they found themselves four goals down, with Hazard collecting the ball outside the box before weaving past two defenders and firing home.

Belgium then added a fifth in the 80th minute when substitute Michy Batshuayi grabbed a debut goal with a neat finish from just inside the box.

ID:213946: cacheID:213946:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3599:
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Marouane Fellaini #8 of Belgium is congratulated by tema mates after he scores the first goal of the game during the International Friendly match between Belgium and Ivory Coast at The King Baudouin Stadium on March 5, 2014
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Belgium cruising against Cyprus
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!