Belgium 3-0 Kazakhstan: Hazard inspires hosts' easy win as Mertens shines

Dries Mertens, Timothy Castagne and Romelu Lukaku scored as Belgium earned a routine with over Kazakhstan, with Eden Hazard instrumental.

Match Report

Real Madrid new boy Eden Hazard helped Belgium on their way to an easy 3-0 win over Kazakhstan in Brussels in Euro 2020 qualification.

The hosts made it three wins from three games in Group I thanks to goals from Dries Mertens, Timothy Castagne and Romelu Lukaku.

Hazard was playing his first match since leaving Chelsea for Real Madrid and teed up the opening goal with a typical piece of sharp movement and a precise cross from the right flank.

Mertens was the recipient of Hazard's service and he turned provider as Castagne made it 2-0 soon after and Lukaku put the game beyond any doubt early in the second half.

Player Ratings

Match Events

11' GOAL! Belgium 1-0 Kazakhstan (Mertens)

Belgium's early pressure has paid off, and it's Mertens who's made the breakthrough - although there's a stroke of good fortune attached to it. Eden Hazard gets away down the right and punishes Kazakhstan with a low pull-back into the path of Mertens, although his shot needs a large deflection to loop over Nepohodov.

14' GOAL! Belgium 2-0 Kazakhstan (Castagne)

Belgium are running away with this already. This time Mertens is the creator as some incisive first-time passing plays him in down the left and, though the chipped cross is too high for Lukaku, Castagne is there at the far post to nod in. 

50' GOAL! Belgium 3-0 Kazakhstan (Lukaku)

It's another one for Belgium! Again Mertens does the legwork, bursting in front the right flank and curling a left-foot shot towards goal; the ball comes back off the post, leaving Lukaku with a simple tap-in.

Line-ups

Belgium XI: V. Kompany, J. Vertonghen, A. Witsel, E. Hazard, D. Mertens, T. Alderweireld, T. Courtois, K. De Bruyne, R. Lukaku, T. Hazard, T. Castagne

Subs: T. Vermaelen, Mignolet, Benteke, Matz Sels, T. Meunier, H. Vanaken, Praet, Y. Carrasco, M. Batshuayi, Origi, L. Dendoncker, Y. Tielemans

Kazakhstan XI: D. Nepogodov, Sergiy Maliy, A. Beysebekov, I. Kuat, T. Zhangylyshbay, Georgiy Zhukov, M. Fedin, Y. Vorogovskiy, T. Erlanov, A. Marochkin, Yuriy Pertsukh

Subs: E. Akhmetov, O. Kerymzhanov, T. Dosmagambetov, G. Suyumbayev, I. Shatskiy, B. Islamkhan, A. Tagybergen, B. Turysbek, Stas Pokatilov, A. Aymbetov