Belgium forge on with victory in Skopje

Belgium registered their fourth win in five matches in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group A, triumphing 2-0 against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia thanks to goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard.

De Bruyne put the visitors in charge after 26 minutes, doubling his international tally in the process. Hazard made sure of the points from the penalty spot just after the hour as Marc Wilmots' section leaders recorded their third consecutive competitive away victory.

FYROM, though, could have taken the lead with their first attack, Thibaut Courtois managing to block Adis Jahovik's header following captain Goran Pandev's left-wing cross. Cedomir Janevski's side continued to press, Ivan Trickovski the next to threaten with a header from Agim Ibraimi's free-kick.

However the visitors, level on points with Croatia, gradually gained control, and after Tome Pacovski had denied Christian Benteke and Toby Alderweireld, De Bruyne fared better having skipped past Aleksandar Lazevski on the left.

Pandev and Ibraimi, whose shot was saved by Courtois, tried their luck before the break, before Belgium again showed a more clinical edge. Hazard, having been felled by Lazevski, picked himself up to beat Pacovski from the spot after 62 minutes.

Now in total control, Belgium passed up a chance for a third when De Bruyne was picked out in the penalty area by Hazard. The teams meet again on Tuesday, when second-placed Croatia play Wales in Swansea.