Belgium Beats Armenia In World Cup Qualifier

Belgium played their third World Cup 2010 qualifying match yesterday. The UEFA Group 5 match was played at Stade Roi Baudouin in Brussels, Belgium. Our Rode Duivels soundly defeated Armenia 2-0 thanks to goals from Sonck (22′) and Everton’s Fellaini (38′). In the first period, the Belgians had trouble maintaining their rhythm against the Armenians. Van Damme and Witsel helped set up Wesley Sonck’s goal that opened the scoring. Marouane Fellaini then secured the match for us early on in the 38th minute. Belgium took their foot off the gas pedal in the second period. Nevertheless, Armenia failed to really create dangerous opportunities on Stijn Stijnen’s goal. We had half-chances here and there in the 2nd period. It was a match that Belgium was largely expected to win. This victory helps relax the team for our upcoming match against Spain where Rode Duivels are playing against vastly different opponents. Spanish football is leaps and bounds ahead of Armenia. It won’t be easy. The WC 2010 match against Spain is set for this Wednesday leaving a slight respite for our players.

Match Details:
BELGIUM 2-0 ARMENIA (Sonck 22′, Fellaini 38′)
STADE ROI BAUDOUIN
OCTOBER 11, 2008

Line-ups
BELGIUM
* 1 Stijn STIJNEN (GK)
* 3 Timmy SIMONS (C)
* 4 Vincent KOMPANY
* 6 Guillaume GILLET
* 7 Jelle VAN DAMME
* 8 Steven DEFOUR Out (-73′)
* 9 Axel WITSEL
* 10 Wesley SONCK Goal Out (-88′)
* 15 Jan VERTONGHEN
* 17 Marouane FELLAINI Goal
* 18 Moussa DEMBELE

ARMENIA
* (GK) Roman BEREZOVSKI 1
* (C) Sargis HOVSEPYAN 4
* Robert ARZUMANYAN 5
* Ararat ARAKELYAN 6
* Artur VOSKANYAN 8
* (-81′) Out Robert ZEBELYAN 10
* (-87′) Out Arman KARAMYAN 11
* (-64′) Out Yellow Card Karen ALEKSANYAN 15
* Levon PACHAYAN 16
* Aghvan MKRTCHYAN 17
* Yellow Card Alexander TATEOSIAN 18

Substitute(s)

* 2 Filip DAEMS
* 5 Daniel VAN BUYTEN
* 11 Stein HUYSEGEMS In (+73′)
* 12 Silvio PROTO
* 13 Tom DE SUTTER In (+88′)
* 14 Mark DE MAN
* 16 Anthony VANDEN BORRE

* Hrajr MKOYAN 2
* Artur YEDIGARYAN 3
* (+64′) In Ara HAKOBYAN 7
* (+87′) In Henrikh MKHITARYAN 9
* Gevorg KASPAROV 12
* Vahagn MINASYAN 13
* (+81′) In Samvel MELKONYAN 14

Cards

(32′) Alexander TATEOSIAN 18 Yellow Card

(58′) Karen ALEKSANYAN 15 Yellow Card