Hazard’s Putin on the Ritz BELGIANS DAZZLE AGAIN
TWO-GOAL Eden Hazard helped Belgium continue their perfect record in Euro 2020 qualifying with a thumping win.
The Red Devils, who had already qualified, were three goals up by half-time through Hazard’s double and a further strike by his younger brother Thorgan.
Romelu Lukaku then added a fourth for Roberto Martinez’s men.
Georgi Dzhikiya netted a late consolation for the hosts, who had also already booked their own place at the finals, but they were blown away by Hazard and his sibling in the first half.
Belgium took the lead in the 19th minute when Thorgan Hazard picked up his brother’s pass, cut inside and fired into the top corner.
Real Madrid forward Eden then collected Lukaku’s knock-down to extend Belgium’s lead with 33 minutes played.
Five minutes later the ex-chelsea star piled on the pain for Russia – Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne squaring the ball unselfishly for Hazard to fire into an empty net from 12 metres.
Only poor finishing by Lukaku denied the Belgians a bigger lead in the opening hour, as Russia failed to create anything.
They improved after the break but their shaky backl i ne a l ways l ooked vulnerable.
And they were unable to stop
Lukaku scoring his
54th international goal when he drove infield to fire past Guilherme Marinato with 18 minutes left.
Dzhikiya finally gave the subdued fans something to cheer about when he swept home a close-range rebound in the 79th minute but it was scant consolation in this crushing defeat by the World Cup semi-finalists.
Belgium will play their f i nal Group I qualifier at home to Cyprus on
Tuesday.
Russia finish off against San Marino – the whipping boys of international football lost 3- 1 to Kazakhstan yesterday but did score their first goal of their campaign via Filippo Berardi.