Belgium claim Euro 2016 spot by beating Andorra 4-1

Belgium’s players celebrate qualifying for Euro 2016 after defeating Andorra in their Group B qualifying soccer match on Saturday. (Source: Reuters)

Belgium secured a ticket to Euro 2016 by thrashing Andorra 4-1 with two goals in each half, including one from Laurent Depoitre on his debut, to move top of qualifying Group B on Satrurday.

With previous section leaders Wales losing 2-0 in Bosnia, Belgium can finish first with a home win over Israel on Tuesday.

The visitors were in control from the start with Radja Nainggolan opening the scoring in the 19th minute. Kevin De Bruyne made it 2-0 with a 20-metre free kick before the break.

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The hosts clawed back a rare goal in the 51st minute when Ildefons Lima converted a penalty conceded by defender Jan Vertonghen who had lost Andorra’s Victor Moreira and could only stop him with an inclement nudge.
Belgium wrapped up the points and a place in France with a spot kick from Eden Hazard before Depoitre scored his first international goal.

Hazard could have made it 5-1 in the 78th with another penalty but this time Andorra’s Ferran Pol made the save.

“You have to come here and win. The most important thing is that nobody got injured,” De Bruyne told Belgian state broadcaster VRT.

Belgium, quarter-finalists at the 2014 World Cup, will play at the European Championship for the first time since 2000 when they hosted the tournament with the Netherlands.

The last time Belgium qualified for the finals was in 1984.