Van Buyten spares Belgian blushes
Wednesday, 30 March 2005
[1] Belgium won their second FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 7 match in five days, although Aimé Anthuenis's side were pushed hard away in San Marino.
Positive start
[2] Saturday's 4-1 victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina was Belgium's first of the qualifying campaign, and Anthuenis was hoping for another emphatic win in Serravalle to lift morale ahead of his side's next match against group leaders Serbia and Montenegro on 4 June. But, despite a positive start, Belgium struggled to take control against determined opponents.
Simons opener
[3] The visiting side took the lead in the 17th minute when Timmy Simons converted a penalty after Thomas Buffel had been brought down in the penalty area by Simone Bacciochi. But San Marino pulled level five minutes before the break - their first goal in five Group 7 matches - when striker Andy Selva fired in a left-foot volley after hesitation in the Belgian defence.
Van Buyten winner
[4] Although Belgium enjoyed plenty of possession they were unable to create many chances, but they managed to avoid becoming only the third side, after Turkey and Latvia, to fail to defeat San Marino in a World Cup qualifier when Daniel Van Buyten hit the winner on 65 minutes.
Second victory
[5] It was only Belgium's second win in five matches but it keeps them in with a realistic chance of qualifying from a tight section. In Wednesday's other Group 7 matches, Serbia and Montenegro drew 0-0 with second-placed Spain to maintain their two-point lead at the top of the group, while third-placed Lithuania stayed two points ahead of Belgium after drawing away to Bosnia-Herzegovina. San Marino continue their search for their first point at home to the Bosnians on 4 June.
Belgium's Timmy Simons is congratulated after opening the scoring