It was a hugely entertaining clash in Moscow, where Belgium emerged 5-2 winners over Tunisia with Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard’s braces.
The Red Devils were still buzzing from their confident opening victory over Panama, including a spectacular Dries Mertens volley, while Tunisia were unlucky to lose in stoppages to England.
Within five minutes, Eden Hazard was clumsily felled by Syam Ben Youssef right on the penalty area line and the referee pointed to the spot. The Chelsea man converted it himself to give Belgium the earliest of leads.
It was a hugely entertaining clash in Moscow, where Belgium emerged 5-2 winners over Tunisia with Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard’s braces.
The Red Devils were still buzzing from their confident opening victory over Panama, including a spectacular Dries Mertens volley, while Tunisia were unlucky to lose in stoppages to England.
Within five minutes, Eden Hazard was clumsily felled by Syam Ben Youssef right on the penalty area line and the referee pointed to the spot. The Chelsea man converted it himself to give Belgium the earliest of leads.
Napoli star Mertens won possession in midfield and threaded through a perfect pass for Romelu Lukaku’s angled drive to make it 2-0.
However, Tunisia got back into it immediately, a free kick finding Dylan Bronn’s glancing header and the offside trap failed.
Just minutes after that, Bronn’s knee buckled under him and he was stretchered off with what looks to be a serious ligament injury. He was soon followed by defensive teammate Ben Youssef.
On the stroke of half-time, Lukaku ran on to a Thomas Meunier through ball and dinked his finish over the goalkeeper.
Eden Hazard chested down a Toby Alderweireld ball over the top, went round the on-rushing goalkeeper and deposited into an empty net for his brace too.
Mertens moved into a centre-forward role once Lukaku went off. Michy Batshuayi was denied Belgium’s fifth by a Yassine Meriah goal-line clearance, the crossbar and a great save from Ben Mustapha.
There was still time for a fifth, as Batshuayi eventually got on target by controlling a long ball and firing in at full stretch.
It still wasn’t over, as Tunisia got another consolation goal with Wahbi Khazri turning in a pull-back from the by-line in stoppages.
Belgium 5-2 Tunisia
E Hazard pen 6, 51 (B), R Lukaku 16, 45 (B), Bronn 18 (T), Batshuayi 90 (B), Khazri 94 (T)
Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Boyata, Vertonghen; Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Carrasco; Mertens (Tielemans 85), R Lukaku (Fellaini 59), E Hazard (Batshuayi 68)
Tunisia: Ben Mustapha; Bronn (Naguez 24), S Ben Youssef (Benalouane 41), Meriah, Maaloul; Sassi (Sliti 59), Shkiri, Khaoui; Ben Youssef, Khazri, Badri
Ref: Marrufo (USA)