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Belarus brush Albania aside

Albania 2-4 Belarus Maksim Romashchenko and Vitali Kutuzov both scored twice as Belarus powered to a Group G victory in Tirana.

Maksim Romashchenko and Vitali Kutuzov both scored twice as Belarus powered to a Group G victory in Albania.

Quick goals
Romashchenko fired the visitors ahead just before the half-hour mark, but two goals in four minutes from Erion Bogdani and Edmond Kapllani saw Albania take the lead before Kutuzov's equaliser in added time at the end of the first half. Kutuzov grabbed a second in the 54th minute before Romashchenko (63) sealed the win from the penalty spot.

Romashchenko warning
The hosts had the best of the opening chances and almost took the lead in spectacular fashion in the 20th minute, Klodian Duro's long-range effort fizzing narrowly wide. Belarus fired a warning through Romashchenko before the same player drilled the ball low into the net from way outside the area for a lovely opener.

Touch of class
Albania's leveller also had a touch of class about it, as Bogdani picked up the ball just inside the penalty area and fired a shot high into the centre of the goal. Kapllani and Kutuzov then traded goals, while the latter edged the visitors back in front when sidefooting the ball in. And worse was to come for the hosts as Romashchenko scored from the spot having been felled himself.

Qualified teams
The two teams return to action against the nations who have qualified from the section on Wednesday, when Albania travel to Romania and Belarus finish against the Netherlands in Minsk.