Michy Batshuayi took his end-of-season goalscoring form for Chelsea onto the international stage when he found the target in Belgium’s 2-1 Monday night win over Czech Republic.
Three Chelsea players began the friendly international in Brussels, Thibaut Courtoisjoining Batshuayi in the home side’s line-up with Tomas Kalas in central defence for the Czech team, and it was a rearguard breached by Batshuayi after 25 minutes when the Chelsea man scored with a left-footed shot. Taking a pass from his strike partner on the night, Romelu Lukaku, into the box he manoeuvred space to the left of his marker before firing low into the net. Lukaku had earlier hit the post.
The lead lasted just four minutes however. Viktoria Plzen’s Michal Krmencik scored after Kevin De Bruyne was dispossessed inside the Belgians’ penalty area having controlled a pass from Courtois. He claimed a foul but the goal stood.
Batshuayi was replaced in one of five half-time substitutions made by Roberto Martinez, who was without the injured Eden Hazard, and it was two of those brought on who combined for the winning goal, Dries Martens crossing for Marouane Fellaini to head home. That was inside the first 10 minutes of the second half but there was no further scoring, although the visitors did level up the woodwork count with a shot from distance against the post late in the game. Having benefitted from that close shave, Courtois went on to finish the match, as did Kalas who spent the season just completed with our neighbours Fulham, helping them into the Championship play-offs.
Next up for Belgium after this warm-up win is a World Cup qualifier in Estonia on Friday. The Czechs are away to Norway a day later.
