Hazard marks 100th cap with a goal in easy win
Belgium eased to a 2-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win in Cyprus, as Eden Hazard scored on his 100th appearance.
Eden Hazard marked his 100th international appearance with a goal as he helped Belgium to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Cyprus in Nicosia.
Much of the build-up focused on Chelsea star Hazard due to the significance of becoming only the third Belgian to reach a century of caps and he did not disappoint, leading the way as Belgium built on its 3-1 win over Russia.
Hazard gave the visitor an early lead with a typically tidy finish for his 30th in a Belgium shirt and Michy Batshuayi doubled the advantage eight minutes later.
The visitor never looked in danger of relinquishing its lead as Roberto Martinez's men secured an early three-point cushion at the top of Group I.
Belgium was kept at bay for just 10 minutes as the ball broke kindly for Hazard just inside the box and he curled a fine effort inside the right-hand post.
Thorgan Hazard then played a key role as Belgium got a second soon after, chipping a clever pass over the defence for Batshuayi and he found the net after skipping past the goalkeeper.
Martinez's side seemed to play within itself thereafter, failing to offer much urgency or killer instinct in the final third.
Timothy Castagne and Youri Tielemans both put harmless efforts wide of the left-hand post in the first 10 minutes of the second half, while Batshuayi was denied by an excellent last-ditch Anthony Georgiou tackle when seemingly through on goal with a quarter of the match to play.
Cyprus – 5-0 winner over San Marino in its opening game – nearly pulled one back two minutes from time, but Kostas Laifis headed on to the roof of the net and that was the final opportunity.