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Belgium overwhelm Hungary to progress to quarter-finals

By Wires
Sports News Belgium overwhelm Hungary to progress to quarter-finals
JUN 26, 2016 LISTEN

Eden Hazard produced a Euro 2016 masterclass, as Belgium beat Hungary 4-0 in the Round of 16 clash in Toulouse to set up a quarter-final date with Wales on Friday.

Belgium, second in the world rankings behind Argentina, finally produced a performance to match that status with a thrilling victory over Bernd Storck's side at the Stadiun de Toulouse.

Toby Alderweireld gave Belgium the lead with 10 minutes on the clock when he nodded Kevin De Bruyne’s set-piece past Gabor Kiraly.

The Red Devils looked a threat whenever they sauntered forward but Kiraly was in inspirational form and made a number of crucial saves to keep Hungary in the game.

But Marc Wilmots' side tore the Hungary defence apart in the closing stage with three goals in the final 11 minutes from Michy Batshuayi, Hazard and Yannick Carrasco

Substitute Batshuayi slotted home with his first touch of the game on 78 minutes, following excellent work from Hazard.

A minute later, Hazard slalomed through the Hungarian defence before unleashing an unstoppable effort into the bottom corner, and another substitute Carrasco putted added gloss on an already polished performance when he made it four in added time.

After their dismal opening match defeat to Italy, which prompted a frank exchange of views over tactics between Wilmots and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Belgium have somehow got themselves into a position where they can see a direct path to the final in Saint-Denis on 10 July.

Having finishing second in Group E with wins over the Republic of Ireland and Sweden, they fortuitously found themselves in the easier half of the draw, avoiding France, Spain, England, Germany and the Italians.

They will meet Chris Coleman's Wales in the quarter-finals on Friday in Lille, following the Principality's 1-0 Round of 16 win over Northern Ireland in Paris on Saturday.

And, if they progress past Gareth Bale et al, it doesn't get particularly harder from then on, with the winner of that quarter-final going on to face Poland or Portugal in the semi-final in Lyon on 6 July.

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