Having taken steps to beat Cyprus, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Gibraltar, the Red Devils displayed their winning mentality against Estonia on Sunday. This took place in the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels and the Devils defeated Estonia 8-1). Thomas Meunier (in the eighth minute), Dries Mertens (in the 16th minute) and Eden Hazard (in the 25th minute) soon spoiled the evening for Mikhel Aksalu, Estonia's goalkeeper.
Henri Anier prevented Thibaut Courtois lining up an eighth clean sheet in a row (in the 29th minute, making the score 3-1).
In the second half, Yannick Carrasco (in the 62nd minute), Ragnar Klavan (in the 64th minute), Mertens (in the 68th minute) and Romelu Lukaku (in the 83rd minute and the 88th minute) contributed to the tremendous tally.
Belgium (with 12 points) is henceforth back on top of group H, two points clear of Greece, which was hampered at home by Bosnia (equalising 1-1).
The Devils kicked off the fixture through Meunier, who took the lead by a cross from Carrasco (in the eighth minute, making the score 1-0).
Although Lukaku had no chance, seeing his strike hit the post (in the 12th minute), Mertens had more success after his shot was deflected by Ragnar Klavan (Mertens scoring in the 16th minute, 2-0).
The Belgians produced several other beautiful combinations, before Hazard tripled the score (in the 25th minute, bringing the score to 3-0).
In the process, the Devils slowed their pace at this point and Anier of Estonia took advantage of Carrasco's losing the ball.
The former completed, against Belgium, his first goal for a total 445 minutes of matches played (being in the 29th minute of this match, making the score 3-1).
In the second half, the Devils took time to find openings.
However, once they had upped their game, Lukaku passed to Carrasco who was on his own, in front of the goal (scoring in the 62nd minute, increasing the score to 4-1).
Klavan deviated Mertens shot (off which Mertens then scored a goal in the 64th minute, taking the score to 5-1) before making it a double (in the 68th minute, increasing the score to 6-1).
Lukaku finished off the work (in the 83rd minute, making the score 7-1, and in the 88th minute, bringing the final score to 8-1).
Belgium will host a match against Greece in the next qualifier, taking place on March 25th, 2017.
The Brussels Times
