Patient Belgium sink Slovenia
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
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Belgium 2-0 Slovenia
The home side are the pacesetters in Group 8 after making it two wins from as many games with two second-half strikes.
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Belgium are the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 8 pacesetters after making it two wins from their opening two matches by beating Slovenia 2-0.
Oblak saves
After defeating Malta 1-0 in their first match, Belgium kept another clean sheet against a physically strong Slovenia side at the 't Kuipje Stadium in Westerlo and eventually broke down their opponents with second-half goals from Radja Nainggolan and substitute Romelu Lukaku. Chances were scarce in the first half with Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak turning away efforts from Jelle Vossen and Stijn Wuytens.
Key substitutions
Coach Jean-François De Sart brought on R. Standard de Liège winger Mehdi Carcela-González for Sven Kums at the start of second half and it led to more pressure on the visiting defence. The Red Devils finally broke through after 56 minutes when midfielder Nainggolan drilled a 25-metre effort in off the underside of the bar. Vossen was replaced by 16-year-old RSC Anderlecht prospect Lukaku on 71 minutes and the tall striker doubled the score within six minutes, wriggling away from three defenders before finishing decisively.