Hazard scores twice, Belgium starts smoothly in Euro 2020 qualifiers
The 2018 World Cup bronze medalist team beat Russia, the toughest opponent in the group, with a score of 3-1 on the evening of March 21.
Goals: Tielemans 14', Hazard (penalty) 45', 88' - Cheryshev 16'.
Red card: Golovin 90'.
Without Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku in the squad, Belgium still proved too strong for Russia. Roberto Martinez's students quickly took the initiative, with 62% possession. During the 90 minutes, the "Red Devils" had four times as many shots and corners as their opponents.
With the dominant performance, it was understandable that Belgium pocketed three points. Youri Tielemans put the home team ahead in the 14th minute, before captain Eden Hazard scored twice, helping the world's third-placed team start 2019 with a 3-1 victory.
The Russian team, in the process of rejuvenation, combined with the unfamiliar 5-4-1 defensive formation, made them appear to lack ideas on the ball. Captain Artem Dzyuba was often starved for the ball, while the full-back duo Yury Zhirkov - Mario Fernandes were repeatedly left exposed by the speed of Hazard and Dries Mertens.
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Belgium still maintains the same strength as what it showed at the 2018 World Cup. Photo:AP |
Belgium’s horizontal attacking scheme worked well. All three of the home team’s goals followed the same pattern: the ball was played horizontally, allowing players in good positions around the penalty area to finish. In the 14th minute, Tielemans charged forward and shot low into the far corner, after a pass from Timothy Castagne. At the end of the first half, the ball was diverted from left to right, to an empty Hazard position, before Belgium’s No. 10 was fouled in the penalty area. The Chelsea star converted the penalty himself, restoring Belgium’s lead.
Between Tielemans and Hazard's goals, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a strange mistake. The Real Madrid keeper fumbled the ball to Denis Cheryshev and was punished by the Russian midfielder who equalized to make it 1-1, just two minutes after Tielemans opened the scoring. However, that was all the 2018 World Cup hosts could muster in Brussels. Hazard got his name on the scoresheet again late in the game, quickly tapping home after Michy Batshuayi failed to control the ball in the penalty area.
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Tielemans (number 8) opened the score for Belgium with a low shot from outside the penalty area. Photo:AP. |
Belgium could have won by more had Batshuayi not squandered his chances. The Crystal Palace striker hit the post once and failed to beat goalkeeper Guilherme once in a one-on-one situation. The 25-year-old failed to live up to Roberto Martinez's expectations on a day when he was given priority over Christian Benteke, Yannick Carrasco and Divock Origi.
In the second round of Euro 2020 qualifiers, Belgium will visit Cyprus on the evening of March 24, while Russia will continue to visit Kazakhstan.
Line-up
Belgium:Courtois, Alderweireld, Boyata, Vertonghen, Castagne, Tielemans, Dendoncker, T. Hazard, Mertens, E. Hazard, Batshuayi.
Russia: Guilherme, Fernandes, Nababkin, Kudryashov, Dzhikiya, Zhirkov, Akhmetov, Golovin, Kuzyayev, Cheryshev, Dzyuba.
