Home pride benefits Belgium
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Article summary
Group 8 hosts Belgium collected seven points to clinch the section with Scotland also qualifying unbeaten.
Article body
Belgium progressed to the Elite round of the 2004/05 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in impressive fashion, remaining unbeaten to win Group 8.
Seven points
The mini-tournament hosts collected seven points from their three games, two more than Scotland who also remained undefeated to progress in second place. Turkey, who reached the finals earlier this year in Switzerland, finished in third place, while group minnows San Marino lost all three games and conceded 18 goals in the process.
Four-goal victory
Scotland kicked off their campaign in solid fashion, defeating San Marino 4-0 at the Olympic stadium in Charleroi. Steven Naismith opened the scoring in the 28th minute from the penalty spot, Robert Davidson and Rocco Quinn made it 3-0 before half-time and Martin Woods completed the win midway through the second half. The Scots finished a player short, however, as Craig Sives was dismissed in the 73rd minute.
Late turnaround
Belgium, meanwhile, mounted a late fightback to overcome Turkey 3-1 at the Pays de Charleroi stadium. Ali Güzeldal gave Unal Karaman's side a 71st-minute lead, but David Trianfillidis cancelled out that strike within four minutes. Sébastien Pocognoli turned the match in Belgium's favour ten minutes from time and, with Turkey pushing forward, Moussa Dembele made the game safe with a third goal in the final minute.
Honours even
On Matchday 2, Ali Öztürk gave Turkey the lead at the Olympic stadium in the 35th minute, but Quinn replied for Scotland a minute before the interval. Scotland lost Naismith to a red card for a second booking eleven minutes into the second period, but took the lead 15 minutes from time through Ross McCormack. This time, however, the late goal worked in Turkey's favour, Güzeldal tying the game up at 2-2 with a minute left.
Comfortable three points
San Marino recorded a second successive 4-0 defeat in the second round of matches, Belgium winning comfortably at the Pays de Charleroi stadium. Prince Asubonteng opened the scoring nine minutes before the interval, with Timothy Derijck doubling the advantage from the penalty spot ten minutes into the second half. Dembele made it 3-0 on the hour, and substitute Steve Colpaert added a fourth in the final minute.
Decisive draw
Belgium subsequently secured first place in the section with a 1-1 draw against the Scots at the Pays de Charleroi stadium in the final round of matches, taking a fourth-minute lead thanks to a Scott Cuthbert own goal. McCormack levelled two minutes into the second half, but the point was not enough for Archie Gemmill's team to overhaul the Belgians.
Ten for Turkey
Turkey, meanwhile, rounded off a disappointing campaign with a 10-0 victory against San Marino at the Olympic stadium, Cafer Can Aksu, Rasit Sevindir and Ufuk Bayraktar all scoring twice. Gürhan Gürsoy, Ufukhan Bayraktar, Ali Öztürk and a Davide Ranocchini own goal completed an emphatic win.