Hazard marks century with goal as Belgium breeze past Cyprus
Captain Eden Hazard marked his 100th cap for Belgium as the World Cup semi-finalists strolled to a 2-0 victory over Cyprus in a Euro 2020 qualifier.
Belgium’s forward Eden Hazard (L) celebrates his goal with teammate and brother Thorgan Hazard during the Euro 2020 Group I football qualification match between Cyprus and Belgium at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, on March 24, 2019. (Photo by Matthieu CLAVEL / AFP)
Michy Batshuayi ran into a cluster of defenders in the penalty box, with the ball falling to Hazard whose first-time curling shot from near the penalty spot floated into the corner of the net in the 10th minute.
His brother Thorgan Hazard returned the favour, flicking on a pass into the box for Batshuayi to round Cyprus goalkeeper Urko Pardo, himself half-Belgian, and slot home after 18 minutes.
Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois was not tested in the Belgian goal, as the Red Devils breezed through the first half and controlled most of the second.
Konstantinos Laifis, whose plays for Standard Liege in Belgium, however, came close with a header from a free kick which went just over the crossbar.
Cyprus beat the world’s weakest team San Marino 5-0 last week, but the FIFA-ranked number one team was too strong for the islanders, who have had the misfortune to draw Belgium in both the last World Cup and Euro qualifiers.
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