San Marino 0-4 Belgium: Michy Batshuayi at the double in routine win

Belgium beat a battling San Marino side 4-0 to strengthen its position at the top of Euro 2020 qualifying Group I.

Published : Sep 07, 2019 09:05 IST

Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi
Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi
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Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi

Michy Batshuayi scored twice as Belgium claimed a low-key 4-0 victory over San Marino to strengthen its position at the top of Euro 2020 qualifying Group I.

Chelsea striker Batshuayi opened the scoring from the penalty spot just before half-time in what proved the only goal of the opening period at San Marino Stadium.

Dries Mertens added a second shortly following his introduction after the break before fellow substitute Nacer Chadli notched Belgium's third.

Batshuayi then added a fourth late on with a header to complete the routine three points.

Belgium has won all five of its Euro 2020 qualifying matches but was well below its best in Serravalle.

 

The final score of a match between the team at the top of the FIFA rankings and the team at the very bottom was entirely predictable.

However, the manner of it came as more of a surprise as San Marino, ranked last in 211th place, produced a defiant defensive display to stifle the attacking talent of its more illustrious opponents.

The last time the sides met in Belgium, the Red Devils strolled to an emphatic 8-0 so for San Marino to restrict it to just four shots on target in the first half was to its credit.

That it took until the 43rd minute for Belgium to open the scoring, from the penalty spot, against a team of San Marino’s standing will be of a slight concern to Roberto Martinez ahead of tougher assignments.

San Marino defender Mirko Palazzi was unfortunate when the ball bounced up and struck him on the arm and Batshuayi slotted home the resulting spot-kick.

Perhaps the biggest compliment paid to San Marino in the match was when Mertens added a second with a close-range finish after being teed up by Chadli, he immediately grabbed the ball out of the net and took it back to the centre circle to kick-off again.

Mertens then returned the favour when he crossed for Chadli to steer the ball home before Batshuayi headed home Yannick Carrasco's cross late on.

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