Soccer-Belarus beat Luxembourg 2-1 to keep close to leaders

LUXEMBOURG, March 24 (Reuters) - Belarus kept their slim Euro 2008 qualifying hopes alive with a 2-1 win away to Luxembourg in Group G on Saturday.

A goal in either half was enough to seal the points for the visitors and leave the home team without a single point from their campaign to date.

Belarus moved level with third-placed Romania on seven points, having played two more games, and three points behind leaders Netherlands. The Dutch were at home to Romania in a later kickoff.

Timofei Kalachev put Belarus in front after 25 minutes when he latched on to a pass from Vitali Kutuzov on the edge of the area before unleashing a thunderous shot to the back of the net.

Kutuzov turned poacher in similar style for his side's second in the 54th minute before Luxembourg pulled one back 15 minutes later through Chris Sagrahola. (Writing by Darren Ennis in Dublin)