Soccer-De Bruyne and Doku grab two each as Belgium hit Kazakhstan for six
Reuters |
Published on: Sept 08, 2025 02:23 am IST
SOCCER-WORLDCUP-BEL-KAZ/ (PIX):Soccer-De Bruyne and Doku grab two each as Belgium hit Kazakhstan for six
BRUSSELS, Sept 7 – Kevin De Bruyne underlined his talismanic role for Belgium with a stunning goal to break the deadlock and set his side on their way to a comfortable 6-0 win over Kazakhstan in their World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
Soccer-De Bruyne and Doku grab two each as Belgium hit Kazakhstan for six
It was threatening to become a frustrating night at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium for the Belgians before the 42nd-minute strike, but after that they were able to go on and register a comfortable victory with both De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku scoring twice.
Belgium have 10 points from four games in Group J, ahead of Wales on goal difference but trailing leaders North Macedonia, who beat Liechtenstein 5-0 earlier on Sunday, by a point. North Macedonia and Wales have played five matches each, however.
The group winners qualify automatically for next year’s World Cup while the runners-up go into a playoff.
Kazakhstan, who have now lost four of their five group games, defended stoutly initially and goalkeeper Mukhamedjan Seysen made several stops before a series of clever touches set up De Bruyne’s thumping shot into the top corner.
Leandro Trossard played an overhead flick to keep Belgium in possession and then Charles De Ketelaere backheeled the ball into De Bruyne’s path, followed by a typically powerful and accurate effort for his 33rd international goal.
Straight away Belgium doubled the lead with Doku hammering home a shot from the left to send them into the break 2-0 up.
Belgium went further ahead up in the 51st minute as captain Youri Tielemans’ cross to the back post was played back across the face of goal by Doku for Nicolas Raskin to touch home for his first international goal.
Doku grabbed his second on the hour mark with a burst of acceleration that took him past the defence before finding the net with a left-footed strike from an acute angle.
The 34-year-old De Bruyne added their fifth in the 84th minute after being set up by Alexis Saelemaekers.
Fullback Thomas Meunier’s strike three minutes later completed a second successive 6-0 win for the Belgians who did the same away against Liechtenstein on Thursday.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Kevin De Bruyne
Kazakhstan
Belgium
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News / Sports / Football / Soccer-De Bruyne and Doku grab two each as Belgium hit Kazakhstan for six
Ruby Gibbs taking one in the 13th minute and Nyah Smith following with a shot of her own in the 16th minute.
Both teams would have their share of scoring opportunities in the first half, and for ever push Lourdes made, Walcott had an answer. She stopped two separate Lourdes attacks, one in the ninth minute and one in the 32nd minute, and it remained a 0-0 game with just 13 minutes remaining before the halftime break. During the final 10 minutes of the quarter, the Cardinals would put together several chances in their offensive zone, looking to get on the scoreboard. The first of those pushes came in the 35th minute as Osorio got off her second shot of the contest, but missed the mark. Rosie Caley and Maria Alevato would each take shots down the stretch at the 42nd and 43rd minutes respectively. However, Lourdes put together one more push in the final minute of the half and, with just 12 seconds remaining before halftime, Walcott would come up with one more big save, keeping the game deadlocked at 0-0 heading into the break.
After taking the 15-minute break for halftime, the Cardinals would come out aggressive, taking the first three shots of the new half. Lily Hanna would get the first shot off just 30 seconds into the new half and thirty seconds later Caley would add her second shot of the day that went wide. The third shot would be the one that went into the back of the net for the Cardinal’s first goal of the season. The strike came courtesy of Kaitlyn Osorio, who was able to sneak pass the Panther’s defense and get her team on the board for a 1-0 advantage. The lead wouldn’t last long as Lourdes pushed up on the next possession and netted their first goal of the day to tie things at 1-1. It brought things back to a statemate and it would come down to the final 35 minutes of play to see who would be the team to overtake. Lourdes defense stiffened, allowing just three Cardinal shots down the stretch, and the Panthers would take advantage.
With 36 minutes to go in the game, Lourdes would take their first lead of the day, making it a 2-1 affair. Lourdes would continue to push the ball up field, but Walcott came through with saves in the 13th and 18th minutes to keep it a one-goal game. In the 26th minute, Lourdes would come through with the goal that put the nail in the coffin, making it a 3-1 game. As the time ticked away, Wheeling would move up and push the issue with two shots in the final 12 minutes of play. Ana Santos would be the first Cardinal to take the shot, coming in the 12th minutes, but was denied by the Lourdes defense. Wheeling made one more push in the ninth minute as Vanessa Dagher brought the ball up the field. She would send the ball towards the net, but was denied once again by the defense. It would be the final shot of the day for the Cardinals as they fell 3-1 to move to 0-2 on the season.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Kaitlyn Osorio, who notched the first Cardinals goal of the season. She would lead the team, taking three shots and putting all three of those shots on net. Rosie Caley would be the other Cardinal to take two multiple shots, taking two on the day. Lily Hanna, Maria Alevato, Ruby Gibbs, and Vanessa Dagher would each take shots to round out the offense. Akyla Walcott got her First start in net as a Cardinal and made eight saves on 11 shots faced.
The Wheeling University Women’s Soccer team returns to action on Saturday, September 13th, when they traveled to Point Park at noon.
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A goal in the 75th minute allowed Luther College to hand the Macalester College men’s soccer team its first loss of the season, 1-0 in a non-conference match Sunday afternoon at John Leaney Field at Macalester Stadium. The Scots, who hadn’t surrendered a goal in the first 344 minutes of the new season, drop to 3-1, while the Norse improve to 3-1.
After a scoreless first half, senior midfielder Ondieki Maina (Kensington, Calif./El Cerrito) fired a shot in the 54th minute that glanced off the gloves of Luther goalkeeper Aitor Lopez and bounced off the crossbar. Then in the 75th minute, Lucas Rojas received a pass from Lenny Lechner and placed a shot into the upper right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead. Macalester responded with five shots in the final 15 minutes, including two chances by senior defender Nick Kent (St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Louis Park) off corner kicks that were saved by Lopez. Maina also had an opportunity in the 83rd minute that went wide. Macalester had two corner kicks in the final minute but the Norse held on to the win.
First year goalkeeper Justin Ratner (Dallas, Texas/Highland Park) made his first career start and registered three saves. The Scots held an 11-9 edge in shots taken, as Lopez tallied three saves for the shutout.
Macalester returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 10 with a non-conference game at No. 12 UW-Superior. The match starts at 7:00 p.m. in Superior, Wis.
STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Soccer is enjoying its best stretch in program history.
The Texans (5-2-1) scored two goals in the first four minutes of the game on Sunday against McNeese (1-5-2) at the Tarleton State Soccer Complex in Stephenville, and never let up, earning their third straight win. This marks the longest winning streak in program history, and the Texans have posted back-to-back shutouts, allowing just two goals over their last six games.
Tarleton State scored two goals within 32 seconds of each other in the first four minutes, with Avery Harr recording her second goal of the year 3:20 into the game (Sammy Schulze on the assist), then Reegan Wagg tallying her first goal of the year just 3:52 into the game (Stevie Reynolds on the assist).
It was an onslaught of shots for the Texans in the first half, outshooting the Cowgirls 16-1.
In the second half, Kaitlyn Flanagan scored her second goal of the season (assist to Jaycie Bass) in the 62nd minute, then Gabrielle Williams scored her first goal as a Texan to cap things off in the 86th minute (unassisted).
Tarleton State split the halves between goal keepers Mikayla Kendall and Emma Barnes, like they have for much of the season. Both goal keepers were flawless once again, with Kendall posting four saves.
Now through eight games, Tarleton State has allowed just five goals, including five straight halves of scoreless action. Tarleton State’s opponents have scored multiple goals in a game just once this year and have been blanked five times. The Texans have outscored their opponents 17-5.
On Sunday, the Texans outshot the Cowgirls 23-11 and had an 11-3 corner kick advantage. Teeghan Dodd played the most minutes for Tarleton State (86), and 23 of the Purple and White’s 27-woman roster played.
Tarleton State is now 3-0 on its five-game homestand. The Texans will continue their stretch on Stephenville on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Alcorn State, which will serve as “9/11 Remembrance” to help honor the victims from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack.
