First-half goals from Renan Bressan and Stanislav Dragun ensured Belarus avenged their away defeat by Georgia in September with a 2-0 win in Minsk.

Determined to bounce back after Friday's 4-0 home loss to Spain left them point-less and bottom of Group I, Belarus rallied from the outset and an attacking side, strengthened by an FC BATE Borisov backbone, did the damage in style early on.

Dragun and Bressan were the most influential men on the pitch, and the former fed the latter to fire in from close range after just six minutes. Bressan then repaid the favour midway through the first half, crossing nicely for FC Dinamo Minsk captain Dragun to double the advantage with a 28th-minute header. Georgia came back into the game close to half-time, but Sergei Veremko twice repelled David Targamadze.

Belarus ceded possession after the interval, soaking up the pressure and attempting to sting Georgia on the counter. Vitali Rodionov eventually passed up two chances, denied by keeper Nukri Revishvili, before hitting the post from ten metres. The hosts were not made to rue the missed opportunities, however, and went on to earn their first win of qualifying.