TALLINN (REUTERS) - Goals from Dries Mertens and Nacer Chadli allowed Belgium to outclass a resilient 10-man Estonia 2-0 in their World Cup qualifier on Friday and maintain top spot in Group H.

Mertens had the visitors ahead just past the half-hour mark, but there was to be no repeat of the 8-1 hammering that Belgium handed Estonia in Brussels last November.

Mertens took advantage of a goalkeeping blunder to put Belgium ahead, and Estonia suffered a further setback on the stroke of half-time when Artjom Dmitrijev was sent off for a studs-high challenge on Marouane Fellaini.

Estonia's stubborn defence prevented Belgium from finding the net until five minutes from the end when Chadli added a second.

Belgium have a four-point lead over second-placed Greece in their qualifying group, and are well placed to qualify for next year's World Cup finals in Russia.