Belgium reaches World Cup by beating Croatia 2-1

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) Belgium qualified for the World Cup on Friday, relying on two goals from striker Romelu Lukaku to beat closest Group A challenger Croatia 2-1.

Lukaku put Belgium ahead in the 16th minute, when he collected a deep pass from Steven Defour and used his pace to outrun defenders before he faked his way around goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa to put the ball in the empty net.

He relied on his speed again in the 38th minute after collecting a pass deep in his own half and chasing the ball down the field. After getting past Pletikosa, he was able to jog with the ball across the line.

"With such players around me, it can only be easy," said Lukaku, the Chelsea forward who is on loan at Everton this season.

Croatia got a consolation goal from Niko Kranjcar on a long-range effort in the 83rd minute. Belgium has 25 points from nine games and an insurmountable eight-point lead over Croatia to qualify as Group A winner.

As soon as the Red Devils had a two-goal lead, it was up to standout goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois of Atletico Madrid and the defensive shield set up by coach Marc Wilmots to keep Belgium's perfect away record intact.

Courtois had to slap out a header from Mario Mandzukic close to halftime and, when the lead was down to just one goal with two minutes to go, made a daring dive at the feet of the Bayern Munich striker to prevent an equalizer.

"We showed that we could set up a tight organization and counter," Courtois said.

Victory also meant that Belgium should end up among the group leaders during the Dec. 6 draw for the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

The loss condemned Croatia to the two-game playoffs for runners-up in the European groups next month.

"We played against one of the best teams in Europe for counterattacks," Croatia coach Igor Stimac said.

Belgium had failed to qualify for an international championship since the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, but the whole nation had anticipated an end to the long wait following the rise of a new standout generation of players. Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo had even traveled especially to Zagreb for the game.

Belgian clubs are largely a non-factor in European cup competitions and none of the starting 11 play in their home league. Instead many have become prominent players for top foreign clubs, with household names like Manchester City's Vincent Kompany, Chelsea's Eden Hazard and Courtois.

Belgium came to Croatia without injured captain Kompany and Aston Villa forward Christian Benteke, who found a perfect replacement in Lukaku.

Wales beat Macedonia 1-0 on a goal from Simon Church in the 67th minute in a late game that had no bearing on the top of the standings.

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AP Sports Writer Raf Casert contributed from Brussels