Buoyant Belgium overwhelm Azerbaijan

Belgium moved into second place in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group A as first-half goals from Jan Vertonghen, Timmy Simons and Nacer Chadli helped them on their way to victory against Azerbaijan.

Georges Leekens' side looked to be in for a battle after Ruslan Abushev took just four minutes to cancel out Vertonghen's opener, but Simons restored Belgium's lead from the penalty spot after the half-hour mark. Chadli then struck in first-half added time to extend the Red Devils' advantage, with Jelle Vossen rounding off the win with their fourth 16 minutes from time.

Belgium made the breakthrough after 12 minutes but they could have already been a goal to the good when Chadli set his sights five minutes earlier. Unfortunately for the 22-year-old striker, his shot rebounded off the crossbar, but the hosts were soon in front following Aleksandr Chertoganov's foul on Steven Defour. Simons laid the dead ball off to Vertonghen and Kamran Agayev was well beaten by his powerful strike.

Vossen then passed up the chance to double Belgium's lead when he fired wide following an inviting pass by Axel Witsel, profligacy which was punished by Abushev, who headed in Mahir Shukurov's corner. That was to be the visitors' last attempt on goal, however, as Belgium restored their lead from the penalty spot after Rail Melikov handled in the area.

Azerbaijan thought they had done enough to cling on until the interval after Agayev turned Chadli's free-kick over on 35 minutes, but the FC Twente man was not to be denied and made it 3-1 on the stroke of half-time by heading Witsel's cross in from close range. Eden Hazard was introduced in the second period to a standing ovation, and shortly after missing a chance of his own, the Diables Rouges midfielder set up Vossen for the final flourish.

Belgium are now second in the section, a point clear of Turkey, who have a game in hand. Those sides meet in Belgium in the next round of qualifiers on 3 June.