Photo Credit: FIFA
Belgium, considered by many as a dark horse team to win the World Cup in 2018, showed exactly why in their 5-2 victory over Tunisia at Spartak Stadium in Moscow. Led by two goals each from Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard, the Belgian attack was able to completely deconstruct Tunisia defensively and were really able to put the match away in the first half.
The Red Devils did not waste any time getting things going, earning a penalty shot in the 5th minute after a sloppy Tunisian tackle took down Hazard on the right side of the box. Hazard calmly netted the penalty shot past the keeper in the 6th minute and it was on for Belgium. Romelu Lukaku, after scoring 2 goals in Belgium’s opener versus Panama, netted Belgium’s second goal of the match off a superb pass to Lukaku from Dries Mertens, setting Lukaku up right on the edge of the penalty box. Lukaku was able to slide the ball past the keeper, to continue a fantastic tournament for him sor far in Russia.
Tunisia was able to pull back within a goal in the 18th minute after a Dylan Bronn header off of a Tunisian free kick. The one goal differential remained until 3 minutes into the first half extra time when Romelu Lukaku slotted away his second goal of the match, off of a terrific Thomas Meunier pass, to put Belgium up 3-1. This goal was Lukaku’s 4th goal of the tournament and his 7th of the month and has him tied with Cristiano Ronaldo for the lead in the race for Golden Boot. Additionally, Lukaku is the first player since Diego Maradona in 1986 to score two goals in two successive matches.
Hazard scored his second goal of the match in the 51st minute to put Belgium up 4-1. With his second goal, it made Hazard and Lukaku only the 5th pair of teammates to score 2 goals a piece in a World Cup match. The Red Devils added one more goal in the 90th minute from the young and exciting prospect from Borussia Dortmund, Michy Batshuayi, to make it 5-1 and really show the rest of the World Cup competition that the Belgians are firing on all cylinders. A late Tunisian goal in extra time gave the North African side a little boost at the end but it was too little, way too late for the Tunisians.
Belgium heads into their final group stage match against England on Thursday as one of the hottest teams in world football, having been unbeaten in their last 10 matches. If England were to beat Panama on Sunday morning, the Belgium-England match will be the decider for who wins the group. There are very few teams playing as well as Belgium right now and considering how some of the other tournament favorites have been faring so far, it has Belgian fans definitely thinking, “Why not us? Why not now?”
Belgium
2018 World Cup
