Toulouse: Eden Hazard scored his first goal of Euro 2016 as Belgium cruised into the quarter-finals with a 4-0 win to end Hungary’s fairytale campaign.
Belgium go into the European Championship quarter-finals for the first time since losing the 1980 final. They were dominant throughout at Stadium de Toulouse after Toby Alderweireld headed them into a 10th minute lead.
The Red Devils wasted a series of great chances to put the game to bed before Michy Batshuayi with his first touch as a substitute, Hazard and Yannick Carrasco scored in the last 12 minutes.
Belgium will now meet Wales in Lille looking for a place in the semi-finals, but on the back of this promising performance coach Marc Wilmots will be looking for improvements in front of goal.
From Kevin De Bruyne’s speculative fourth-minute strike that sailed Gabor Kiraly’s crossbar, the Red Devils were too hot for a Hungary making their return to a major tournament three decades after the 1986 World Cup.
Almost from kick-off, Kiraly was kept busy as Romelu Lukaku, then De Bruyne, after Hazard’s superb delivery, tested the goalkeeper.
When Adam Lang hauled De Bruyne to the ground on the left flank, the Manchester City forward promptly dished out the punishment with a superb inswinging free-kick that Alderweireld headed past Kiraly at his back post.
Despite their attractive football, a lack of clinical finishing left Belgium at risk during an encouraging Hungary fightback in the second half.
Kiraly did well to block De Bruyne’s effort with his feet after he powered on to Lukaku’s sweeping pass behind the Hungarian defence.
But De Bruyne headed Lukaku’s perfectly-weighted chip into Kiraly’s arms. And when Zoltan Gera gave possession away cheaply in midfield, Lukaku’s one-two with Radja Nainggolan saw the Everton striker skew wide as De Bruyne ran in unmarked at the back post.
Thibaut Courtois was at full stretch when Balazs Dzsudzsak fired between Nainggolan’s legs.
Belgium spurned another chance on the stroke of half-time when Mertens’ close-range shot was deflected by Adam Lang.
Michy Batshuayi came off the bench to punish Hungary when he ran in unmarked after the hour to first-time his shot past Kiraly.
Carrasco added their fourth in the first minute of added on time when he powered down the middle on the counter to beat Kiraly.AFP
