Belgium 3 Bosnia-Herzegovina 1:De Bruyne shines in straightforward victory

Manchester City new boy Kevin De Bruyne impressed for Belgium as they beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1 in their Euro 2016 qualifier in Brussels.

Belgium came from behind to defeat Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1 in their Euro 2016 Group B qualifier at the King Baudouin Stadium and edge closer to booking their place in next year's showpiece in France. 

First-half goals from Marouane Fellaini and Kevin De Bruyne – fresh from his big-money move to Manchester City – cancelled out Edin Dzeko's earlier opener, with Eden Hazard adding a third from the penalty spot late on.

After providing the assist for Fellaini's leveller, De Bruyne ensured Belgium took a half-time lead with a dipping long-range strike.

Dzeko's superb header – his sixth goal in five games for Mehmed Bazdarevic's side – gave Bosnia-Herzegovina the lead after 15 minutes, but that was all that the visitors could create in the first half as they were stifled by Belgium.

Haris Medunjanin and Dzeko both went close to finding an equaliser after the restart, while Asmir Begovic had to be on top form at the other end to deny Romelu Lukaku.

But the victory was sealed for Belgium when Hazard was brought down in the area by Ognjen Vranjes, and the winger converted coolly past his Chelsea team-mate Begovic – keeping the pressure on group leaders Wales, who beat Cyprus 1-0.

Belgium, who remain three points behind Wales in second, were sluggish in possession early on, and were punished when the impressive Muhamed Besic stole in ahead of Fellaini and picked out Mensur Mujdza, the full-back's dinked cross finding Dzeko, who headed into the top-right corner.

The hosts did not have to wait long to equalise, however, as Fellaini shirked off his marker to nod home powerfully from De Bruyne's pin-point corner.

Marc Wilmots' men had found their rhythm, and would have gone ahead had Lukaku directed his near-post header on target, but the Everton forward could only find the side-netting.

And Belgium edged ahead on the stroke of half-time when De Bruyne showed his quality – collecting the ball on the edge of the area before unleashing a low shot that nestled into the right-corner.

Bosnia finally forced Thibaut Courtois into action just prior to the hour mark, the Chelsea stopper doing well to parry away Medunjanin's rasping volley.

Medunjanin was at the heart of his side's next attack – robbing Vincent Kompany of possession in midfield and playing in Dzeko – but the forward's goal-bound strike was deflected wide.

Belgium almost extended their lead with just under 20 minutes remaining, Begovic doing well to save from Lukaku, who had been played in by De Bruyne.

However, the result was put beyond all doubt in the 77th minute, Hazard dispatching his penalty calmly into the bottom-left corner after he had been fouled by Vranjes.

Courtois pulled off another instinctive save to prevent Dzeko late on, but Belgium held firm to move onto 14 points and one step closer to automatic qualification.

Live Commentary: Belgium 3-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina - as it happened

Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina faced off in their Euro 2016 qualifying clash at the King Baudouin Stadium.

Marc Wilmots's men were in dire need of a victory afterlosing their last qualifier to Wales, leaving them behindChris Coleman's men in Group B.

The home side were dealt a blow when they fell behind to a strike from Edin Dzeko, but Marouane Fellainibrought them back on level terms within eight minutes.

Kevin De Bruyne handed Wilmots's men the lead just before the break and although Bosnia-Herzegovinahad good chances to equalise, Belgium secured their win when Eden Hazard scored from the penalty spot to keep them on track for qualification for Euro 2016.

Read how all the action unfolded in our commentary below.

7.15pmGood evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Euro 2016 qualifying clash between Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

7.16pmMarc Wilmots's men will be determined to get back to winning ways in their qualifying campaign following their 1-0 defeat to Wales in their last match. Belgium dropped into second place in Group B and are now three points behind Chris Coleman's side, De Rode Duivels will be eyeing a victory this evening to close the gap to Wales at the top of the group.

7.19pmBosnia-Herzegovina won their last outing in their qualifying courtesy of a 3-1 win over Israel as Edin Dzeko netted a brace for Mehmed Bazdarevic's side. However, they face an uphill challenge to qualify for the tournament next year in France and will know that a win tonight is a must to close the gap to Belgium.

7.22pmThe team news has been announced so we'll start with the home side.

7.25pmBELGIUM STARTING XI: Courtois; Alderweireld, Kompany, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Witsel; De Bruyne, Fellaini, Nainggolan, Hazard; Lukaku
Subs: Boyata, Mignolet, Mertens, Chadli, Januzaj, Origi, Batshuayi, Lombaerts, Defour, Mirallas, Gillet, Denayer

7.27pmBOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA STARTING XI: Begovic; Mujdza, Sphaic, Vranjes, Kolasinac; Besic, Medunjanin; Lulic, Pjanic, Visca; Dzeko
Subs: Vrancic, Sunjic, Bicakcic, Hajrovic, Hadzic, Kvesic, Duric, Ibisevic, Buric, Anicic, Sehic, Zec

7.30pmThe Premier League is well represented in Belgium's starting lineup as eight players currently ply their in the English top flight. Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard feature along with Manchester City's Vincent Kompany and newly-signed Kevin De Bruyne. Tottenham Hotspur duo Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen operate in the full-back positions, while Manchester United's Maroune Fellaini and Everton's Romelu Lukaku will lead the line this evening. Only Radja Nainggolan, Thomas Vermaelen and Axel Witsel are the members of the starting lineup that play outside of England.

7.33pmThree recognisable names leap off the teamsheet for Bosnia-Herzegovina as Chelsea's other keeper Asmir Begovic starts between the sticks, while Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, who is currently on loan at Roma, starts up front. Everton's Muhamed Besic starts in a defensive midfield role in front of the back four.

7.36pmIn the last meeting between the sides the clash finished 1-1 after Dzeko fired Bosnia into a 1-0 lead, but Nainggolan netted a second-half equaliser for Wilmots's men to earn them a valuable point.

7.40pmPREDICTION! It's hard to look pass Belgium this evening as they will be determined to get back to winning ways to provide a security blanket for their qualification hopes, which took a hit in their defeat to Wales last time out. 2-0 to the home side!

7.42pmThe players are making their way out on to the pitch so we should be underway shortly.

1 minKICKOFF! We're underway in the King Baudouin Stadium.

1 minHazard makes a bustling run down the left for the home side and he gets near to the final third of the pitch before Mujdza is able to make a challenge to dispossess the Chelsea man.

3 minAldweireld feeds Lukaku in the centre circle and the forward flicks the ball into the path of De Bruyne, who tries to burst through the middle, but Spahic gets back to make an important intervention to knock the ball back to Begovic.

6 minBelgium have settled into a passing rhythm at the back in the early stages of this game, but have yet to click in the final third of the pitch. Meanwhile, Bosnia-Herzegovina seem quite content to sit on the back foot and soak up the pressure.

9 minBesic shows his quality as he picks up the ball in the middle of the park and drives into the final third of the pitch. The Everton man feeds Lulic down the right, but his cross is blocked behind by Vertonghen.

10 minPjanic whips the corner in from the right, but Spahic cannot make decent enough contact on the ball to threaten Courtois as the ball goes behind for a goal kick.

12 minAlderweireld takes a heavy touch after receiving the ball from Kompany and Lulic pounces on the right-back and wins the ball. However, the midfielder is stopped in his tracks by the referee's whistle as the Tottenham man did well to buy a free kick for Wilmots's men.

15 minGOAL! Belgium 0-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Dzeko)

15 minBosnia-Herzegovina take the lead as Dzeko guides a header past a stranded Courtois into the net. Mujdza created the goal as he cut in from the right and lifted the ball into the box, and Dzeko peeled off Kompany and guided his header over Courtois, who was flat footed, into the top corner.

17 minDzeko has netted six goals in his last six games for Mehmed Bazdarevic's side. He displayed his form with a deft header to hand his side a shock lead this evening. How will Belgium respond?

19 minBelgium are desperately trying to up the tempo of their passing, but have shown no signs of penetrating the Bosnia back four so far this evening. Bazdarevic's men have been solid and have provided a better threat in the final third than the home side.

21 minThe home side get in behind the Bosnia defence as Alderweireld and De Bruyne link up down the right, and the Tottenham man does enough to win a corner off Kolasinac. An opportunity here for the home side.

22 minGOAL! Belgium 1-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Fellaini)

22 minBelgium draw level through Fellaini's header from a corner. De Bruyne lifted the corner into the six-yard box and Fellaini shrugged off his man to power his effort past Begovic, who didn't have time to react. All square now in the King Baudouin Stadium.

25 minThe home side have found their rhythm in the final third as a pass from Nainggolan finds Vertonghen down the left. The left-back whips the ball into the box, but his cross failed to find a player in Red in the middle as it sailed behind for a goal kick.

27 minHazard slides a through ball into the feet of Nainggolan in the inside left channel. The midfielder tries to turn to play the ball to Lukaku, but Besic gets back in time to make the challenge and win the ball to clear downfield.

28 minBelgium win the ball back in the final third and space opens up for Alderweireld to strike the ball from 25 yards, but his effort sails well over the bar.

30 minCHANCE! Lukaku should put Belgium ahead as Vertonghen raids down the left once again and lifts a dangerous ball into the box, but the Everton man could only head his effort past the post from close range. A real chance for Wilmots's men.

32 minBelgium are well on top in this contest now and the visitors are having to start to throw their weight about to remain in the match. They've given away a couple of free kicks, but the hosts are yet to threaten again with a set piece, but have you to believe that they will be on high alert after Fellaini's equaliser.

36 minCHANCE! Alderweireld lifts the ball long into the path of Fellaini who tries to turn his man and does so to break into the box. The Manchester United man struggles to bring the ball under control, but still manages to fire a strike on the half-volley - under pressure from Spahic - but his effort goes wide of the post. Close to a second goal for the midfielder.

38 minCHANCE! Hazard plays a cross-field pass into the path of De Bruyne, who takes his time and then lofts the ball into the box with the outside of his right foot. The Manchester City man looks for the run of Nainggolan, but Vranjes manages to read the danger to fire the ball over his own bar for a corner.

40 minHazard plays a neat one-two with Lukaku and bursts into the box, but as he tries to pull the trigger he gets crowded out by a number of Bosnia-Herzegovina defenders. The Chelsea man was inches away from breaking through the defensive line.

43 minGOAL! Belgium 2-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina (De Bruyne)

43 minDe Bruyne proves why Manchester City paid £54m for his services as he displays his quality with a sublime strike from distance into the bottom corner. The winger collected the ball from Witsel and was afforded space and time on the edge of the box to pick his spot in the bottom corner with a right-footed shot.

45 minHALF-TIME: Belgium 2-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina

8.36pmBelgium come from behind to hold a 2-1 lead at the break. Marc Wilmots's men were slow to get going in the early stages of the match and paid the price when Edin Dzeko guided his header past Thibaut Courtois. However, the home side responded when Marouane Fellaini found the net with his powerful header and Kevin De Bruyne handed Belgium the lead just before the break with a pinpoint strike into the bottom corner.

8.39pmBosnia-Herzegovina played well in the early stages of the game and deservedly took the lead through Dzeko, but they were gradually pushed back by the home side and conceded the lead at the break to De Bruyne's strike. However, Mehmed Bazdarevic will be pleased with his side's efforts and there was enough from their first-half display to suggest that they could yet earn a positive result from the clash.

46 minRESTART! We're back underway in this Euro 2016 qualifier.

49 minBesic gets in behind Alderweireld down the left for the visitors and he lifts a cross into the box, but his cross is inches too high for the run of Dzeko and the attack comes to an end as the striker cannot threaten Courtois's goal.

51 minBesic continues his good start to the half this time with a run down the right flank and Nainggolan is forced to slide in to concede a corner. Good work from the Everton man in the early stages of the half.

52 minNot the best minute of play from Pjanic as his corner from the right goes too deep for any of the players in blue in the middle. However, a slice of luck allows him back in down the right, but the midfielder then overhits his attempted through ball for Visca.

54 minYELLOW CARD! Kolasinac goes into the book for the visitors for a challenge on De Bruyne.

55 minCHANCE! De Bruyne is afforded space and time on the edge of the box again and he works the ball on to his right foot. His strike at goal is low and towards the bottom corner, but Begovic gets down well to his left to make the save.

58 minCHANCE! Out of nothing Medunjanin almost brings Bosnia back into the game as he cracks a volley at goal from the edge of the box, but his left-footed strike is well saved by Courtois. Mujdza caused problems down the right and his delivery was headed back into the path of Medunjanin by Lulic, but the keeper came to the home side's rescue with a fine stop.

61 minCHANCE! Kompany almost costs his side as he loses the ball in the Bosnia half, allowing the visitors to break. Medunjanin slides a through-ball into the path of Dzeko who carries the ball into the box before striking a right-footed strike at goal, which takes a deflection of Witsel before slamming into the sidenetting.

65 minNainggolan is almost in behind the Bosnia defence, but he is flagged for offside when he attempted to latch on to De Bruyne's pass. Close for the home side.

67 minCHANCE! Lulic is allowed to cut in from the left flank and then line up a strike from the edge of the box, but his curling strike lacks pace and Courtois is able to make the stop with relative ease.

70 minKolasinac gets down the left, but the home side manage to clear his cross away, although only as far as Besic on the edge of the box. The midfielder tries to raid into the box with a mazy run, but Fellaini makes an excellent challenge on the edge of the box to quell the attack.

72 minCHANCE! Lukaku has the chance to all but secure the game for his side as he exchanges a neat one-two with De Bruyne, who plays an incisive through-ball for the forward, but Begovic comes out to narrow the angle and makes the block with his body.

76 minPENALTY TO BELGIUM!

76 minVranjes brings down Hazard in the penalty area and the referee points to the spot. Meanwhile, Sunjic is booked for his protest for the visitors.

78 minGOAL! Belgium 3-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Hazard pen.)

78 minHazard keeps his cool from the spot and sends his Chelsea teammate Begovic the wrong way by burying his strike into the bottom corner. Belgium are all but there now!

80 minBosnia win a free kick 25 yards from goal which is blasted into the wall by Pjanic, but Hajrovic picks up the ball and rifles an effort towards the net, but Courtois is alert to the danger to make the save.

83 minSAVE! Courtois makes another important save for the home side as Visca manages to backheel the ball into the path of Dzeko inside the box, but the forward is denied by an excellent stop from the Belgium keeper.

85 minCHANCE! Belgium break and Origi is put one-on-one with Begovic by De Bruyne, but the striker is denied by a solid save from the keeper to give the visitors a glimmer of hope.

87 minCHANCE! De Bruyne turns his man with ease and races towards goal. The Manchester City man breaks into the box and fires an effort at goal, but narrowly misses the target.

89 minSUBSTITUTION: De Bruyne makes way and receives a standing ovation for his display tonight. Dries Mertens replaces the winger.

90 minThere will be three minutes of added time.

90 + 2 minCHANCE! Origi has the chance to add a fourth goal for his side when he receives Mertens' through-ball in the inside left channel, but his left-footed strike is deflected over the bar.

90 + 3 minFULL-TIME: Belgium 3-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina

9.41pmBelgium have fended off a strong challenge from Bosnia-Herzegovina this evening. The visitors gave them a real scare when they took the lead in the 15th minute through Edin Dzeko, but Marouane Fellaini brought Marc Wilmots's men level while Kevin De Bruyne put them ahead just before the break. Both sides continued to have good chances in the second half, but the game was sealed for the home side when Eden Hazard was brought down in the box, and the Chelsea man fired the resulting penalty past his club teammate Asmir Begovic to secure the three points for his team.

9.45pmWilmots will breathe a sigh of relief as his side's qualification hopes are back on track and there is now healthy gap between them and the potential chasers for the automatic spot as a result of their victory. However, Bosnia-Herzegovina's hopes look all but gone because of their defeat tonight.

9.48pmThanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.