Belgium scored a goal in each half to beat Malta 2-1 in their opening UEFA Championship qualifier in Louvain yesterday.

Ryan Kabir and Dion Cools were on the mark for the hosts while Jake Grech pulled a goal back for the Maltese put on a spirited display to somewhat atone for their poor showing in the 5-0 friendly defeat to Luxembourg last week.

Jake Galea started in goal in the absence of the injured Philip Schranz while Dunstan Micallef and Jake Grech were roped in midfield at the expense of Zach Scerri and Myles Beerman.

It was the Belgians who seized the initiative with Galea denying the hosts time and again.

But Belgium’s pressure finally produced a breakthrough two minutes from half-time when Isaac Mpenza found Ryan Kabir who steered the ball past Galea.

On the restart, Vella withdrew Jean Borg and roped in Scerri as he looked to infuse fresh energy in his team’s engine room.

The Belgians continued where they left off in the first half and doubled their lead on 54 minutes.

Brian Heynen served Dion Cools who made it 2-0.

Malta refused to throw in the towel and they managed to pull a goal back on 69 minutes through Jake Grech following an assist by Juan Corbolan.

But the Belgians soon regained the initiative and ended the match on the attack with Cools hitting the woodwork.

Belgium: N. Jackers , D. Cools, M. Bossaerts, S. Mmaee, S. Miangue, B. Heynen (86 A. Iseka), S. Schrijvers , I. Mbenza, J. Vanlerberghe, R. Kabir (82 S. Bastien), J. Ngoy (68 M. Hedilazio).

Malta: J. Galea, J. Borg (46 Z. Scerri), K. Zammit, K. Micallef, D. Vella, M. Guillaumier, J. Mbong, J. Grech, K. Nwoko (90 A. Friggieri), J. Degabriele (63 M. Beerman), J. Corbolan.

Referee: Rob Harvey (Ireland).

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.