Belgium beat Tunisia 5-2, Hazard and Lukaku scored a brace each

  • Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and M. Batshuayi scored for Belgium
  • Dylan Bronn and Wahbi Khazri scored for Tunisia.

Bengium beats Tunisia 5-2 in Group-G match in Spartak Stadium,Moscow.

At 5th minute of the match Eden Hazard was fouled at the top of Tunisian box by Ben Youssef. Referee awarded a penalty to Belgium after consultation with VAR. Belgium captain opened the score line, converting the penalty kick at 6th minute.

Rumel Lukaku scored his third goal at 16th minute, when Dries Mertens scurried forward into the Tunisian half and lay the ball on for the Manchester United man. He composed himself before slamming past Farouk Ben Mustapha.

Within two minutes, Dylan Bronn header went past Thibaut Courtois into goal. Khazri, the tunisian captain, whiped in a superb delivery from a free-kick for Tunisian No11. The Tunisian scorer went out on streacher on 24th minute. H. Nagguez whose style of play is much more offensive than Dylan Bronn’s came as substitute.

During first half stoppage time, Lukaku scored his second goal of the match. It’s a delightfully deft finish from the Manchester United man, with a soft flicking past. Thomas Meunier works the ball infield from the Belgian right. This goal puts him as top scorer of the tournament along with Cristiano Ronaldo with four goals each.

Eden Hazard scores his second at 51st minute, from a through ball by Kevin De Bruyne that creates the opportunity for the No10. The Manchester City man lofts a pass beyond the Tunisian defence and Hazard controls well on his chest before rounding Ben Mustapha and finishing calmly.

Batshuayi replaced hazard at 68th minute and was seen to be active at Tunisia box. He was deprive thrice to score a goal by a goal line save, a rebound from post and another brilliant save by Tunisian goalkeeper. Finally he was finally successful at the end moments (90th minute). Tunisian captain, Wahbi Khazri scored a goal to reduce margin at stoppage time.

With this result today, Belgium proceed to round of 16 and Tuinisia lost both their group matches.

“[Romelu] will try to score as many goals as he can but not at all costs. I thought he was incisive, in the right position, in a confident mood, in front of goal he was as clinical as you might expect”- Roberto Martinez the Belgium coach said. He added, “Many things can be better. This was a game that suited our style, you have to give credit to Tunisia. They wanted to win from the beginning, press high up. The credit that we deserve is that we took those opportunities well. We are still growing. With a two-goal lead we should have controlled the game a little bit better.”

Roberto Martinez, Belgium coach

Belgium (4-4-2)
GK: Thibaut Courtois
D: Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Jan Vertonghen; Thomas Meunier
M: Dries Mertens (Y. Tielemans, 86′), Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, Yannick Carrasco
F: Eden Hazard (capt) (M. Batshuayi , 68′), Romelu Lukaku (Fellaini, 59′)
Tunisia (4-3-3)
GK: Farouk Mustapha
D: Syam Ben Youssef (Y. Benalouane, 41′), Yassine Meriah, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, Ali Maaloul
M: Dylan Bronn (H. Nagguez, 24′), Ellyes Skhiri, Ferjani Sassi (N. Sliti, 59′)
F: Saif-Eddine Khaoui, Wahbi Khazri (capt), Anice Badri
Venue: Spartak Stadium Moscow
Referee: Jair Marrufo (USA); VAR: Mark Geiger (USA)

Match Highlights: Belgium vs Tunisia

Man of the Match: Eden Hazard