Eden Hazard quelled doubts over his fitness by scoring in
Belgium's 2-0 win over Sweden on Sunday.
A knee injury had meant Hazard was doubtful for the
contest at Solna's Friends Arena, creating concern for Belgium supporters with
their FIFA World Cup opener versus Algeria just over two weeks away.
But the Chelsea winger put those worries aside, his
79th-minute strike adding to Romelu Lukaku's effort as Marc Wilmots' claimed a
solid victory.
Hazard was withdrawn immediately after, with Wilmots no
doubt relieved to see his star man come through unscathed.
The head coach would also have taken great heart from
Lukaku's goal, as he found the net with a stunning controlled finish from range
to follow up a hat-trick against Luxembourg earlier this week.
A complete performance against a worthy Sweden side -
albeit one without star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was on the bench - was
capped by a clean sheet, with skipper Vincent Kompany immense throughout.
The hosts - who failed in their efforts to qualify for
the World Cup - initially enjoyed the upper hand, almost taking the lead when
Erkan Zengin side-footed just over the crossbar.
Yet Belgium responded well and, suddenly attacking with
purpose, came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when Kevin De Bruyne's
precise curler rattled the woodwork.
It was all one-way traffic thereafter, with Kompany
narrowly volleying over after meeting Dries Mertens' corner.
Belgium did not have to wait much longer for an opener,
however, as Lukaku picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and curled powerfully
beyond Andreas Isaksson.
It was only thanks to a superb stop from the goalkeeper
that Sweden did not find themselves 2-0 down, Isaksson getting down low to keep
out Daniel Van Buyten's point-blank header from Mertens' deep cross.
Any favour Mertens had gained with Wilmots from that
delivery was almost extinguished moments later, the winger fortunate to stay on
the pitch following a rash two-footed lunge.
Perhaps spurred on by a sense of injustice, Sweden
pressed forward at the end of the half - only for their final ball to be found
wanting as Belgium defended resolutely.
Sweden were unable to carry that momentum into the start
of the second period as Kompany again just missed the target from a Mertens
set-piece.
Unwilling to give up, Erik Hamren's side saw off the
danger before showing some attacking intent of their own.
Indeed, Thibaut Courtois' goal was under siege for long
periods towards the end, Jimmy Durmaz hitting the woodwork with a vicious
strike.
But any hopes Sweden had of getting something from the
game were extinguished when Hazard slid beyond Isaksson late on.
Culled from Soccerway
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