Belgium’s promises easily put Turkey aside in the preliminary round of the European Championship. Openda made the difference with two goals, and Vertessen added another in overtime. With 6 out of 6, the Little Devils have an impeccable determination.
Turkey-Belgium goals:
- 31′ 0-1 Loïs Openda
- 82 ‘0-2 Loïs Openda
- 90′ + 2′ 0-3 Yorbe Vertessen
Openda erases the weak start of the match
In June, Belgian football promises kicked off its Euro 2023 qualifying campaign with a victory in Kazakhstan. On a visit to Turkey, Belgians were allowed to hunt 6 out of 6.
On paper, the Belgians had a much higher quality in their ranks than the Turks, but this did not appear in the opening stage. Barely two minutes later, he stunned the young demons with a disallowed goal from Bayraktar.
The Belgian Promises had a hard time controlling the excited Turks, but they almost took the lead after ten minutes, when Plettenkox headed against the post. That lead came half an hour later, when Upenda rushed off the left and finished with an accuracy: 0-1.
Then the Belgians took matters more and more into their own hands. Openda had another excellent opportunity, with a cross from Siquet, and Verschaeren demanded a penalty just before the break after a minor foul. This did not change anything in the situation.
Openda and Vertessen End Turkey
The second half started like the first: the Turks opened with great passion, and the Belgians had a hard time keeping the ball in the team. A little before the hour, the boards were almost balanced, but Ackman shot a chance imposed with a ruler right next to the goal.
The Belgians overcame their regression and finished it ten minutes before the end of the match. Openda, again, go left and kick back into the far corner. It was stolen.
In the end, Mathisen had room to make some changes. One of these substitutes, the PSV striker Vertisen, killed the entire match in overtime with a real goal for the striker.
The Belgians stay clear in the European Championship qualifying round and top their group 6 out of 6. In a good month, the promises will be back in action. On October 8, they will welcome Kazakhstanis into their home.
Belgium setting: Vandevoordt, Kana, Pletinckx, Theate, Siquet, Onana, Raskin, Sardella, De Ketelaere, Verschaeren, Openda.
Alternatives: Matazzo, van der Prapt, Vertisen, El Hajj, license.
Mathiesen, coach of the national team: “Now I want 9 out of 9”
“We got what we expected,” national team coach Jackie Mathiesen then responded. “Fortunately, the players took it seriously. We had a difficult entry in both the first and second half.”
“Then we formed a block and looked for opportunities to get out of this tangle. So we had to strengthen the midfield a little bit more with Matazzo. We had luck in football a few times, but that’s part of it. A great result,” he said. Matigsen.
Mathiesen was very satisfied with his attackers. “If the opponent wants to press high and hard, they leave the spaces. That’s exactly what Openda has so much power for. We saw today that we had someone like this behind us with Vertessen.”
“We are now entering a three-game period at home. Now we have to confirm that. Definitely the first against Kazakhstan. Now, in these circumstances, I definitely want to start with nine games out of the nine against Denmark.”
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