Chelsea FC On Duty: Eden Hazard Scores In Belgium Victory
Eden Hazard netted a goal for Belgium in a match that featured three Chelsea FC stars
With the international break upon us, Chelsea FC have a host of players around the world taking part in matches that a lot of people frankly just don’t care about. As a result, a fair few may not have been aware that Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Asmir Begovic were all in action last night. The winger hit the back of the net for Belgium as they squared off with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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Marc Wilmots’ Belgium side went into game knowing that a victory would be massive for their Euro 2016 qualification campaign. A stuttering 2014/15 season saw the star-studded squad only take one point from their two fixtures with Group B leaders Wales, while they drew the first tie with Bosnia 1-1.
In the opening game of the 2015/16 portion of qualifying, Belgium needed the win to keep the heat on the inspired Gareth Bale-led Welsh, as well as to maintain the gap between themselves and third-place Israel. Israel did in fact demolish Andorra 4-0 last night, so a loss would have seen them slip out of the automatic qualifying spot.
Hazard and Courtois started for Belgium, with Begovic getting the start in the opposing goal. It really was a feast of Premier League talent with the likes of Marouane Fellaini, Vincent Kompany and Romelu Lukaku in the line-up for Wilmots, while new Manchester City man Kevin De Bruyne also took the field.
However, it was Bosnia who went ahead through another Man City man. Edin Dzeko (who is currently on loan with Mohamed Salah at AS Roma) latched onto a cross with a header that wrong-footed Courtois and nestled into the bottom right corner.
This sparked the Belgians into life as they took no time to level the contest. Manchester United’s second-choice striker/target man/whatever Fellaini also used his head to direct the ball into the net on the end of a De Bruyne corner.
The £50million signing then bagged one for himself, with a great effort some 25 yards out from goal. Belgium would subsequently control the game although Courtois was called into action on occasion to prevent another Bosnian goal.
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Eden Hazard stepped up to put the game away as he converted a penalty in the 78th minute. Picking up the ball on the far side, he darted towards the goal in a run that Chelsea fans are yet to see in a Yokohama-branded shirt this season before being cynically brought down inside the box. He would then calmly place the ball in the bottom left corner as Begovic dived the wrong way.
This 3-1 victory sees Belgium still three points off the pace set by the Welsh, but more importantly they have kept the 2 point distance from third-place Israel. Bosnia are six points behind them.
Hazard and Courtois will now travel to Cyprus for another qualifier while Begovic will host Andorra in a must-win game. Both will take place on Sunday.
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