(Manchester United News)
Manchester United duo Marouane Fellaini and Daley Blind had contrasting nights on international duty as Belgium beat Cyprus comfortably but the Netherlands needed an injury-time equaliser to avoid a home defeat to Turkey.
Fellaini fired in two goals at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, as the hosts hammered their opponents 5-0 to go above them in Group B in the Euro 2016 qualifying competition. The United star broke the deadlock after 21 minutes with a low shot on the turn from a header by Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, who doubled the advantage himself with a diving header to convert Eden Hazard's cross.
The first goal of the second half also came from Fellaini, with a looping long-range strike in the 66th minute. The 3-0 lead was almost immediately increased when Chelsea playmaker Hazard curled in Belgium's fourth goal, while the fifth was added by substitute Michy Batshuayi after the previous scorers had all left the field.
Fellaini, for the record, was replaced by Monaco midfielder Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco and could reflect on a productive 69 minutes for his national team - much in keeping with his recent club form, which led to him being a runner-up in United's Player of the Month poll for March.
Belgium's next assignment couldn't be much bigger - on Tuesday they'll be away to second-placed Israel, who surrendered top spot earlier on Saturday evening by losing 3-0 at home to Wales, for whom Real Madrid's Gareth Bale (2) and Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey both scored.
As for the Netherlands, Blind and his compatriots trailed for almost an hour of their Group A clash with Turkey after Galatasaray forward Burak Yilmaz beat goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen eight minutes before half-time. But just when the action was coming to an end at the Amsterdam ArenA, a shot from Wesley Sneijder deep into stoppage time found the net, reportedly via a deflection off Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
The disappointing 1-1 draw means the Netherlands remain well off the qualifying pace and they'll be hoping for at least a morale boost in Tuesday's home friendly against Spain - the team they thrashed 5-1 in last summer's World Cup.
