Marouane Fellaini scores two as Belgium dominate Cyprus

A Marouane Fellaini brace and further strikes from Christian Benteke, Eden Hazard and Michy Batshuayi earned Belgium a 5-0 victory over Cyprus in their Euro 2016 qualifier in Brussels.

Fellaini and Benteke struck in the first half to give Belgium a commanding 2-0 lead before the break, before Fellaini, Hazard and Batshuayi netted in the second to complete a commanding victory for Marc Wilmots' side.

Belgium replace Cyprus in third place in Group B, with the Red Devils having accumulated eight points from their four matches to date.

Belgium trail Wales, who earlier beat Israel 3-0 in Haifa to replace them as group leaders, by three points but have played a game fewer than Chris Coleman's side.

Having made a sluggish start to the qualifying campaign with just five points accrued from their first three games, Belgium wasted little time in exerting their dominance over Cyprus in the opening exchanges at the King Baudouin Stadium.

Fellaini put Belgium in front in the 21st minute after he profited from some calamitous Cyprus defending from a corner.

Giorgos Merkis tried to clear in his own area but his attempt cannoned off Vincent Laban and Fellaini shot on the turn and his low strike beat Cyprus goalkeeper Tasos Kissas and nestled into the net.

Benteke doubled Belgium's advantage 10 minutes before half-time when he gave the Cyprus defenders the slip to head a Hazard cross past Kissas to reward his side's first-half dominance.

Cyprus held their own for 20 minutes of the second half but two goals in as many minutes meant they would be on the wrong end of a heavy defeat.

Fellaini scored his second goal of the match when he collected the ball on the edge of the area before curling past Kissas and into the top left-hand corner.

It was 4-0 moments later when Hazard capped off a fine midfield display by waltzing past a couple of Cyprus defenders before rifling into the corner of the net.

Cyprus were down and very much out at this point and Belgium grabbed a fifth with 10 minutes left when Batshuayi scored his first senior international goal on the night of his first cap with a fine strike from outside of the penalty area to complete a comprehensive victory for the hosts.

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