An unimpressive victory

22 November 2007

BRUSSELS – The Belgian national football team ended its European Championships qualifying campaign with a one nil victory against Azerbaijan in Baku on Wednesday evening.

The FC Nantes forward Luigi Pieroni scored the only goal in a match that typified the Red Devils’ poor Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

The Azeris had dominated the first half and the Belgians were happy to return to the dressing room at half time on level terms.

The Israeli referee gave the Azeri Tagizade a yellow card for protesting rather than awarding Azerbaijan a penalty for a fowl by Belgium’s Jelle Van Damme inside the box.

Earlier in the half, Gillet had cleared an Azeri shot from the line and Ramazanov hit the side-netting.

Half time substitutions pay dividends
The Belgian coach René Vandereycken brought in the Standard captain Steven Defour and Club Brugge’s Karel Geraerts at half time and the Red Devils had a dream start to the half. Pieroni, who had been all but invisible during the first half, shot home from close range on 51 minutes.

Despite having taken the lead the Belgians were still sluggish.

Furthermore the Azeris also seemed to have lost their zeal and the rest of the second half produced nothing of much interest.

The big question now is whether the win in Baku will be enough to save the national team coach René Vandereycken from the chop, after what has been a disastrous European Championship Qualifying campaign.

Subject: Belgian news