Vermaelen sends Belgium through
Friday, October 7, 2005
Article summary
Belgium 1-0 Spain A Thomas Vermaelen goal sealed Beglium's place in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs as Group 7 winners.
Article body
Belgium sealed their place in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs thanks to a Thomas Vermaelen goal in their Group 7 game against Spain.
Timid start
The Belgian team featured a trio of Club Brugge KV stars in goalkeeper Glenn Verbauwhede, defender Jason Vandelannoite and attacker Jeanvion Yulu-Matondo, but despite all that UEFA Champions League experience, Jean-François de Sart's side looked fairly subdued in the opening stages of the game against an impressive Spanish side.
Vermaelen strikes
However, as the game progressed, the Belgians began to take more risks and it was AFC Ajax defender Vermaelen who scored the all-important goal after 64 minutes. The win means that they cannot now be denied a play-off place, regardless of the result of their final game against Lithuania in Kaunas next Tuesday.
Spanish position
Spain, meanwhile, have to win their final game away against San Marino and hope that Serbia and Montenegro fail to claim three points in their final home game against Bosnia-Herzegovina if they are to take the runners-up slot and progress to the knockout stage.