Belgium took a giant step towards qualifying for the World Cup finals in Brazil with a 2-0 win over Scotland at Hampden on Friday.
The visitors, who included new Manchester United signing Marouane Fellaini in their starting line-up, dominated proceedings with Chelsea’s Kevin De Bruyne and Fellaini both having early chances.
The pair then combined in the swift breakaway that led to Belgium’s opener in the 38th minute with Fellaini feeding De Bruyne whose low pass into the box was converted by Steven Defour.
Fellaini was replaced by Kevin Mirallas in the 68th minute and his former Everton team-mate sealed the win in the 88th minute with a fine strike.
The result sees Belgium open up a five point lead at the top of qualifying Group A over Croatia, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Serbia.
The two sides meet in Croatia next month with the Belgians needing just a point to seal top spot in the group and a place in Brazil 2014.
Scotland, who continue to show signs of improvement under Gordon Strachan, slip back to the bottom of the group following Macedonia’s win over Wales.
With injuries ruling out Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen, it was left to veteran Daniel van Buyten, who scored a last minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw the last time the Red Devils played at Hampden in 2001, to captain Belgium at Hampden.
Ominously for Scotland, manager Marc Wilmots could afford to leave stars such as Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, Mousa Dembele and Mirallas on the bench.
Spurred on by around 7,000 travelling fans the Belgians made a strong start with De Bruyne causing all sorts of problems.
All eyes were on Fellaini as he played his first match since signing for Manchester United on transfer deadline day and the giant midfielder came close to opening the scoring in the ninth minute.
Tottenham’s Chadli skipped past James Forrest and floated a cross to the back post where the towering Fellaini rose to meet it but team-mate Christian Benteke got in his way and he sent his header wide from close range.
Fellaini’s next contribution to the match came in the 15th minute when he looked unlucky to be booked for clipping the ankles of Robert Snodgrass.
Belgium were doing all the pressing and De Bruyne broke away from the middle of the park and fired in a fierce low drive from 20 yards but it was straight at Marshall.
Scotland came within a whisker of the lead in the 33rd minute when Charlie Mulgrew teed up Celtic team-mate Scott Brown 30 yards out and he hammered a sizzling strike inches wide.
Belgium’s pressure paid off in the 38th minute as they took a deserved lead. Steven Whittaker lost possession just inside the Scotland half and Fellaini slipped a pass down the right wing to De Bruyne whose low centre from the right was expertly guided into the bottom corner by Defour with a first time shot.
The visitors started the second half in a similar fashion and Chadli’s shot from 25 yards was held by Marshall before De Bruyne’s effort was blocked.
Whittaker sent a long range strike just wide before Ikechi Anya, who was making his debut, saw his cross sent just over by Shaun Maloney.
With time running out Mirallas made sure of the points as he spun away from Grant Hanley and ran in on goal before lifting it over the out-rushing Marshall.
Belgium beat Scotland, close in on Brazil 2014
