Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard each scored twice and substitute Michy Batshuayi added a deserved fifth as Belgium cruised past Tunisia to edge closer to a place in the Round of 16.
Lukaku’s clinically taken brace, coming in the wake of a double against Panama in the Red Devils’ opening match, established him as Belgium’s most prolific scorer at a single FIFA World Cup™. Hazard kicked off the scoring by opening his account at Russia 2018 in the sixth minute from the penalty spot, before Lukaku doubled the Red Devils’ lead after 16 minutes with an angled left-foot finish.
The Carthage Eagles pulled a goal back courtesy of a Dylan Bronn header but Lukaku then made it 3-1 in first-half stoppage time with a dinked finish to convert Thomas Meunier’s clever through ball. Hazard then got his second in the 51st minute of a thrilling contest from a defence-splitting Kevin de Bruyne pass before Belgium substitute Batshuayi and Tunisia skipper Wahbi Khazri rounded off the scoring.
The North Africans’ World Cup hopes now hang by a thread and they will need Panama to beat England in tomorrow’s match to stand any chance of continuing in this competition.
Amid scorching heat in Rostov and a cauldron-like atmosphere created by almost 20,000 fans, Mexico beat Korea Republic 2-1 in Group F to put one foot in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ knockout stage.
El Tri initially struggled to break down the Koreans, who set up in a defensive tactical shape and left the livewire Son Heungmin to plough a lone furrow up front. However, after Carlos Vela’s 26th-minute penalty had broken the deadlock, the Mexicans were able to breathe easier and better guard themselves against counter attacks thereafter. Even so, Guillermo Ochoa was called into action to prevent Son from equalising shortly before half-time.
The Taeguk Warriors were forced to come out of their shell and push forward as the match wore on, but this more open approach suited Mexico down to the ground, paving the way for them to double their lead. El Tri fans in Rostov Arena were in full voice after Javier Hernandez struck in the 66th minute and will have gone away with high hopes that their country will finally break their Round of 16 hoodoo this year.
As for Korea Republic, Son’s stoppage-time screamer from outside the box will have served as scant consolation given that the result left them staring elimination in the face.
Germany saved its World Cup with one swing of Toni Kroos’s right foot on Saturday night, snatching a 2-1 victory over Sweden from the jaws of a draw that would have felt very much like a defeat. The goal, five minutes into added time, and only moments before the final whistle, righted Germany’s ship on a night that began with the team facing elimination.
