Match ends, Cyprus 0, Belgium 1.
Cyprus 0-1 Belgium
- From the section European Football
Belgium narrowly defeated Cyprus in Nicosia to keep Group B leaders Wales waiting to qualify for Euro 2016.
The Welsh drew 0-0 with Israel in Cardiff and would have qualified if Belgium had failed to win.
But Chelsea forward Eden Hazard hit the winner four minutes from time, stroking in Dries Mertens's cutback.
Earlier, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne had struck straight at the goalkeeper when through on goal and Marios Nikolaou had a low effort saved by Thibaut Courtois.
In the same group, Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Andorra 3-0 to move up to fourth, two points behind Israel.
Wales need a draw away at Bosnia-Herzegovina or at home against Andorra to secure qualification, while Belgium also have a chance to qualify automatically when they face Andorra and Israel in their last two matches.
Second-placed Belgium are one point behind Wales, with the top two sides securing automatic qualification for the tournament in France next summer.
Line-ups
Cyprus
- 1Georgallidis
- 4DemetriouBooked at 61mins
- 2Júnior Dossa Momade
- 19Laifis
- 15AntoniadesBooked at 47mins
- 10CharalambidisSubstituted forLabanat 53'minutes
- 23NikolaouSubstituted forArtymatasat 84'minutes
- 7EconomidesBooked at 73mins
- 21Makris
- 13Makridis
- 9MitidisSubstituted forSotiriouat 11'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Charalambous
- 5Sielis
- 6Angeli
- 8Sotiriou
- 11Englezou
- 12Negri
- 14Laban
- 16Stylianou
- 17Kolokoudias
- 18Artymatas
- 20Kastanos
- 22Panayi
Belgium
- 1Courtois
- 2Alderweireld
- 4KompanyBooked at 90mins
- 19Vermaelen
- 5Vertonghen
- 8FellainiSubstituted forMertensat 64'minutes
- 6Witsel
- 18Nainggolan
- 7De Bruyne
- 9BentekeSubstituted forOrigiat 45'minutes
- 10E Hazard
Substitutes
- 3Lombaerts
- 11Mirallas
- 12Mignolet
- 13Gillet
- 14Mertens
- 15Denayer
- 16Defour
- 17Origi
- 20Lukaku
- 21Januzaj
- 22Chadli
- 23Ciman
- Referee:
- Vladislav Bezborodov
Match Stats
Home TeamCyprusAway TeamBelgium
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away8
- Corners
- Home5
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away12
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Cyprus 0, Belgium 1.
Corner, Cyprus. Conceded by Thomas Vermaelen.
Offside, Cyprus. Dossa Júnior tries a through ball, but Pieros Sotiriou is caught offside.
Booking
Vincent Kompany (Belgium) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Vincent Kompany (Belgium).
Vincent Laban (Cyprus) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Divock Origi (Belgium).
Konstantinos Laifis (Cyprus) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Jason Demetriou.
Attempt missed. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jan Vertonghen.
Goal!
Goal! Cyprus 0, Belgium 1. Eden Hazard (Belgium) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Dries Mertens following a fast break.
Substitution
Substitution, Cyprus. Kostakis Artymatas replaces Marios Nikolaou.
Attempt missed. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dries Mertens.
Offside, Belgium. Kevin De Bruyne tries a through ball, but Divock Origi is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Dries Mertens (Belgium) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Constantinos Makridis (Cyprus).
Foul by Vincent Kompany (Belgium).
Pieros Sotiriou (Cyprus) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Constantinos Makridis (Cyprus) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Pieros Sotiriou.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Pieros Sotiriou (Cyprus) because of an injury.
Foul by Vincent Kompany (Belgium).
Pieros Sotiriou (Cyprus) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Giorgos Economides (Cyprus) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Giorgos Economides (Cyprus).
Attempt missed. Vincent Laban (Cyprus) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Jason Demetriou.
Attempt missed. Giorgos Economides (Cyprus) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Marios Nikolaou.
Attempt missed. Vincent Laban (Cyprus) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Pieros Sotiriou.
Foul by Divock Origi (Belgium).
Marios Antoniades (Cyprus) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Thomas Vermaelen (Belgium) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dries Mertens with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Konstantinos Laifis.
Substitution
Substitution, Belgium. Dries Mertens replaces Marouane Fellaini.
Attempt missed. Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left from a direct free kick.
Eden Hazard (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Giorgos Economides (Cyprus).
Booking
Jason Demetriou (Cyprus) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
