Brilliant Belgians blitz Hungary – Hungary v Belgium EURO 2016

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Hungary 0-4 Belgium

Belgium set up a quarterfinal date with Wales by beating Hungary 4-0 in the last of 16 at Euro 2016. Toby Alderweireld gave Belgium the lead and they went on to waste a glut of chances in an entertaining encounter before two goals in 94 seconds in the latter stages from substitute Michy Batshuayi and Eden Hazard put the result beyond doubt. Yannick Carrasco wrapped up the scoring with a fourth in stoppage time.

Marc Wilmots’ team will now head to Lille to take on Wales, with the winner of that tie facing either Poland or Portugal in the semifinals.

Belgium started the game well, first Kevin De Bruyne shooting over from distance before Romelu Lukaku saw his effort from inside the box turned behind by Gabor Kiraly. De Bruyne then hit a weak effort straight at the keeper as pressure mounted. The goal finally came in the 10th minute as the Hungarian defence fell asleep. De Bruyne was brought down 30 yards from goal and it was the Manchester City man who curled in a brilliant, curling cross that the unmarked Alderweireld headed home. Lukaku was also left unattended and could easily have been the one to score.

Toby Alderweireld heads Belgium in front.
Toby Alderweireld heads Belgium in front.

Lukaku then sent De Bruyne through on goal and Kiraly had to force the ball behind with his feet. Balazs Dzsudzsak saw an effort from the edge of the box easily claimed by Thibaut Courtois in the 24th minute as Hungary seemed to settle into the game more. De Bruyne then flicked a header into the arms of Kiraly, before Gergo Lovrencsics blasted over for Hungary. De Bruyne was at the heart of everything good Belgium were doing, and he had another shot saved as half-time approached. Belgium were given a warning in the 39th minute when Lovrencsics fired in a superb shot which flew inches over the bar, then Dzsudzsak shot a whisker wide of the post with Courtois at full stretch. Hungary were opened up once again as Dries Mertens first shot straight at Kiraly when completely free before having another effort blocked.

The second half began much like the first with Eden Hazard bringing a save out of the goalkeeper with a rasping shot from an angle. A highly entertaining game continued on the same path as Hungary again went forward and Adam Szalai lifted his shot too high. Hungary again went close when Dzsudzsak’s superb left-wing cross was met by the head of Szalai but it flicked off Thomas Vermaelen and went just wide. Mertens wasted another chance to give Belgium clear daylight when he shot over the bar from close range from Jan Vertonghen’s cross. Adam Pinter went close in the 66th minute when his shot from distance came off the heel of Alderweireld and forced Courtois to backpedal and tip over the crossbar. Roland Juhasz went just as close moments later when his drive from the angle on the half volley went just wide.

Lukaku was taken off in the 76th minute to be replaced by Batshuayi for his tournament debut, and within two minutes the Marseille forward had doubled Belgium’s lead. The ball was worked to Hazard on the left following a corner and he squared to Batshuayi six yards out, who had been left completely unmarked, to finish with ease. Just two minutes later the result was put beyond doubt as Hazard capped a superb display with a fine solo goal. The Chelsea forward cut across the box to open up the space before planting a perfect shot past Kiraly into the opposite corner.

Hazard celebrates his brilliant goal.
Hazard celebrates his brilliant goal.

Szalai saw an effort tipped over the bar as Hungary looked for what would have been a deserved consolation. Akos Elek saw an effort saved by Courtois but Belgium broke up the other end and De Bruyne fed in another sub, Carrasco, who burst through on goal and slotted under Kiraly in injury time to put the gloss on the scoreline.

Man of the Match – Eden Hazard (Belgium)

Substitutions:

Hungary

  • Akos Elek replaces Zoltan Gera 46 mins
  • Nemanja Nikolic replaces Adam Pinter 75 mins
  • Daniel Bode replaces Roland Juhasz 79 mins

Belgium

  • Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco replaces Dries Mertens 70 mins
  • Michy Batshuayi replaces Romelu Lukaku 76 mins
  • Marouane Fellaini replaces Eden Hazard 81 mins

Yellow cards:

Hungary – Tamas Kadar,Adam Lang,Akos Elek,Adam Szalai.

Belgium – Thomas Vermaelen,Marouane Fellaini,Michy Batshuayi.

 

 

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