MX23RW : Friday, December 13 01:59:44| >> :600:1356019:1356019:
[monks data]
Belgium national football team
World Cup | Qualifiers
Oct 16, 2012 at 7.45pm UK
 
Scotland national football team

2-0

Scotland fail to hold out as Christian Benteke and Vincent Kompany strike for Belgium

Scotland fail to hold out in Belgium as Christian Benteke and Vincent Kompany score twice in two second-half minutes in Brussels.

Belgium have regained top spot in Group A of the European World Cup qualification by netting twice in two second-half minutes in Brussels this evening.

Early on the hosts grabbed hold of the match and winger Dries Mertens was denied by a double save from Allan McGregor.

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke then had a golden opportunity to put the Belgians ahead but he failed to make contact from Mertens's cutback.

Christian Benteke celebrates scoring for Belgium© PA Photos

Scotland's first opportunity came from a free kick midway through the half and Shaun Maloney was acrobatically denied by Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois, who is on loan at La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid.

The visitors had two further close calls before the break when first Nacer Chadli curled an effort just wide before McGregor kept out Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Moussa Dembele's low drive.

Benteke came close to giving Belgium the lead soon after the break but his header clipped the top of the crossbar before going behind.

McGregor was booked for time wasting midway through the half before the Scots' resistance was finally broken on 69 minutes.

Chelsea's Eden Hazard worked a corner with Blues teammate Kevin de Bruyne, who swung a cross to the back post that Benteke this time headed home.

The lead was doubled just two minutes later when Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany twisted and turned in the area before lashing past McGregor at his near post from 15 yards.

Croatia had gone top of the group with victory over Wales earlier this evening but Belgium have a superior goal difference so retake first place.

ID:50181: cacheID:50181:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3822:
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Allan McGregor makes a save for Scotland
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Chances at both ends in Brussels
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Rams
@
49ers
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!