World cup qualifier

Spain 2 - Belgium 0

Spain beat Belgium 2-0 to record their first win in the qualifying stage. Luis Aragonés made five changes from the side which drew with Bosnia last month, but they were unable to find the route to goal in the first half, even though their opponents were left a man short when Deflandres was sent off for a second bookable offence with only half an hour gone. Aragonés brought on Luque soon after the restart though, and the Deportivo forward made the breakthrough minutes later after Reyes put him through. Raúl headed a second four minutes after that from Salgado's cross, but they couldn't add to their lead despite playing against nine men for the last twenty minutes after Goor was sent off for spitting at Xavi. Spain share the lead at the top of group VII with Serbia and with Lithuania, who they will meet next Wednesday in Vilnius. (09.10.04)