Belgium secured World Cup qualification with a dominant 7-0 victory over Liechtenstein, finishing their campaign unbeaten atop Group J.
LIEGE: Belgium confirmed their place at next year’s World Cup with a commanding 7-0 victory over Liechtenstein on Tuesday.
The emphatic win ensured Belgium finished their qualifying campaign unbeaten at the top of Group J with 18 points.
Jeremy Doku and Charles De Ketelaere both scored twice in the comprehensive victory at Stade Maurice Dufrasne.
Hans Vanaken, Brandon Mechele and Alexis Saelemaekers also found the net for the dominant home side.
Belgium produced a devastating seven-minute spell in the second half where they scored four goals.
The victory secured Belgium’s 15th appearance at the World Cup finals, having previously reached the semi-finals twice.
Vanaken opened the scoring after just 150 seconds with a header from captain Youri Tielemans’ cross.
“We wanted to get the crowd behind us quickly,” said Vanaken.
Doku doubled the advantage in the 32nd minute after being set up by Saelemaekers’ clever pull-back.
The winger completed his brace before halftime with an impressive solo effort past three defenders.
Mechele made it 4-0 in the 52nd minute before Saelemaekers pounced on a rebound three minutes later.
De Ketelaere then scored twice in quick succession in the 57th and 59th minutes to complete the rout.
“It was a beautiful evening and just great fun to play here,” added De Ketelaere.
The result erased disappointment from Saturday’s 1-1 draw away at Kazakhstan that delayed qualification.
Liechtenstein finished their campaign as the only European side not to score a single goal. – Reuters
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