World Cup 2018: Belgium beat debutants Panama 3-0 in Sochi
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Highlights: Belgium 3-0 Panama
Romelu Lukaku scored twice as Belgium proved too good for World Cup debutants Panama in the opening match in England's Group G.
After a goalless first half, Belgium, ranked third in the world, finally broke Panama's resistance when Dries Mertens steered in a spectacular volley.
Panama, 55th in the rankings, had a chance to snatch an equaliser but Thibaut Courtois was quick off his line to save Michael Murillo's shot with his legs.
Manchester United striker Lukaku made certain of the victory as he scored with a diving header after an exquisite pass from Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne with the outside of his boot.
Lukaku then added a third with a chipped finish after a fine through ball from Chelsea's Eden Hazard.
Belgium take on Tunisia in their second match on Saturday, 23 June (13:00 BST), before Panama are England's second opponents a day later (13:00 BST).
Gareth Southgate's side play their first game of the tournament later on Monday against Tunisia in Volgograd (19:00 BST).
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Relive Belgium v Panama as it happened
Rate the players in the Belgium v Panama match
Belgium finally find a way through
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'Moment of magic' - Mertens volley sets up Belgium win
Belgium, who included seven British-based players in their starting line-up, scored 43 goals in qualifying, a joint record for a European team, but suffered a frustrating first 45 minutes in Sochi.
Panama's goalkeeper Jaime Penedo denied Yannick Carrasco, Mertens, Hazard and Lukaku in the opening 40 minutes as the Central Americans battled hard to try to contain one of the World Cup favourites.
The Europeans also failed to capitalise on two Panama errors when Hazard shot into the side-netting after a short Roman Torres backpass, before Mertens also missed the target when allowed to shoot from a quickly-taken short corner.
The opening matches at the World Cup have seen Brazil and Argentina both draw their first games, with holders Germany losing to Mexico.
But Belgium ensured there would be no upset at the Fisht Stadium as Mertens took advantage of Panama failing to clear their lines with a superb volley over Penedo.
They had a chance to double their lead as De Bruyne curled a free-kick wide before Lukaku dived in to score from the Manchester City midfielder's pass and settle any nerves.
Six minutes later Lukaku grabbed his second and Belgium's third with a composed finish over the advancing Penedo.
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Panama fail to get the goal their fans craved
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Lukaku doubles Belgium's lead
A national holiday was declared after Panama sealed qualification in October and their fans, who outnumbered those from Belgium, created a fantastic atmosphere, cheering every time their team crossed the halfway line.
The emotion of the occasion was shown with captain Roman Torres, whose goal took Panama to Russia, in tears as the national anthem played before kick-off.
Torres, part of Panama's back five, did superbly to make a last-ditch sliding challenge to deny Lukaku a tap-in from De Bruyne's cross in the opening half.
Eric Davis shot over and the Panama fans were dreaming of an upset as their side held out throughout the first half.
However, with the Central Americans tiring, Belgium's extra class and fitness levels told after the break.
The Panama fans were denied the goal they so desperately craved as Murillo could not steer his shot past Courtois and Fidel Escobar's late free-kick was comfortably held by the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Nevertheless, Panama's fans, players and management can be proud of the determined effort.
They now need to get something against England on Sunday in Nizhny Novgorod or they will be facing an early exit from their first World Cup.
Man of the match - Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
Romelu Lukaku has been directly involved in 13 of Belgium's last 19 goals (11 goals, two assists). He now has 38 goals in 70 games for Belgium and is his country's record goalscorerMore second-half delight for Belgium - the stats
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Belgium are now unbeaten in their last 10 World Cup group games (won five, drew five), winning each of their last five.
Each of the last 11 goals that Belgium have scored in World Cup matches have come after half-time.
Panama were given five yellow cards in this match - the last time that a team were given more in a single World Cup game was in the 2010 final (Netherlands - seven).
Overall, there were eight yellow cards in this match between Belgium and Panama - the most of any game at the 2018 World Cup so far and also more than in any single game at the 2014 tournament.
Belgium have won all 13 international matches that Dries Mertens has scored in.
Dries Mertens became the first Belgian player to score in two successive World Cup tournaments since Marc Wilmots (1998 and 2002).
It took 49 minutes and 10 seconds for Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne to make his first successful pass in the match to teammate and striker Romelu Lukaku. His second pass (68:11) assisted a goal for Lukaku.
Only Jan Ceulemans (six) has scored more goals in major tournaments (World Cup & European Championships) for Belgium than Romelu Lukaku (five - level with Marc Wilmots).
Eden Hazard has been directly involved in 16 goals in his last 15 appearances for Belgium (eight goals, eight assists).
'They could have won by a landslide' - what they said
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez: "We started very well for the first 10 to 15 minutes, then Panama become effective with their defensive structure and we got a bit anxious.
"But I'm delighted in the way we reacted as a team - everyone was committed to keep a clean sheet and in the second half it was about finding a bit of composure in front of goal. We couldn't be prouder of the team.
"It was a great goal from Dries Mertens and that gave us some breathing space. From that point on we were more ourselves and more in control.
"Panama gave an incredible amount of effort but it is difficult to maintain that for more than 45 minutes, and my players deserve huge credit for the way we played for 90 minutes."
Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku: "As a team we know we have a lot of players with qualities. We were ready today and need to be ready for the next game as that will be more difficult than this one.
"I'm not thinking in personal terms - the most important thing is the team. I want to help my team-mates as much as possible."
Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez: "It would have been terrible if they had scored more. No-one likes losing but considering our opponents and our history it is a normal result and they could have scored more.
"It is not a positive result, but they could have won by a landslide and there were people that thought we would lose by seven goals.
"I told them we played with dignity. We are not as fit as the European players. We will keep growing and learning."
On Panama's five yellow cards: "We are a very organised team, we play tactically and sometimes our players look a bit tough, but other teams are also tough and physically strong.
"We never have the intention to be tough but they are strong men. We do not try to hurt anyone - we have good intentions."
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Belgium
1Courtois
2Alderweireld
20Boyata
5VertonghenBooked at 59mins
15MeunierBooked at 14mins
7De BruyneBooked at 88mins
6WitselSubstituted forChadliat 90'minutes
11CarrascoSubstituted forDembéléat 74'minutes
14MertensSubstituted forT Hazardat 83'minutes
10Hazard
9Lukaku
Substitutes
8Fellaini
12Mignolet
13Casteels
16T Hazard
17Tielemans
18Januzaj
19Dembélé
21Batshuayi
22Chadli
23Dendoncker
Panama
1Penedo
2MurilloBooked at 51mins
5R Torres
4Escobar
15DavisBooked at 18mins
6Gómez
8BárcenasBooked at 45minsSubstituted forG Torresat 63'minutes
11CooperBooked at 49mins
20GodoyBooked at 57mins
21JL RodriguezSubstituted forDiazat 63'minutes
7PérezSubstituted forTejadaat 73'minutes
Substitutes
3Cummings
9G Torres
10Diaz
12Calderón
13Machado
14Pimentel
16Arroyo
17Ovalle
18Tejada
19Avila
22A Rodríguez
23Baloy
Referee:
Janny Sikazwe
Attendance:
43,257
Match Stats
Home TeamBelgiumAway TeamPanama
Possession
Home62%
Away38%
Shots
Home15
Away7
Shots on Target
Home6
Away2
Corners
Home9
Away3
Fouls
Home17
Away18
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Belgium 3, Panama 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Belgium 3, Panama 0.
Posted at 90'+1'
Hand ball by Mousa Dembélé (Belgium).
SubstitutionPosted at 90'
Substitution, Belgium. Nacer Chadli replaces Axel Witsel.
Posted at 90'
Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Eric Davis.
Posted at 89'
Attempt saved. Fidel Escobar (Panama) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
BookingPosted at 88'
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 88'
Foul by Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium).
Posted at 88'
Luis Tejada (Panama) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 86'
Axel Witsel (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Fidel Escobar (Panama).
Posted at 86'
Offside, Panama. Luis Tejada tries a through ball, but Ismael Diaz is caught offside.
Posted at 85'
Foul by Thorgan Hazard (Belgium).
Posted at 85'
Aníbal Godoy (Panama) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 84'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
SubstitutionPosted at 83'
Substitution, Belgium. Thorgan Hazard replaces Dries Mertens.
Posted at 83'
Delay in match Gabriel Gómez (Panama) because of an injury.
Posted at 83'
Attempt blocked. Eden Hazard (Belgium) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 82'
Dries Mertens (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Armando Cooper (Panama).
Posted at 81'
Offside, Belgium. Romelu Lukaku tries a through ball, but Dries Mertens is caught offside.
Goal!Posted at 75'
Goal! Belgium 3, Panama 0. Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Eden Hazard with a through ball following a fast break.
SubstitutionPosted at 74'
Substitution, Belgium. Mousa Dembélé replaces Yannick Carrasco.
SubstitutionPosted at 73'
Substitution, Panama. Luis Tejada replaces Blas Pérez.
Posted at 73'
Foul by Axel Witsel (Belgium).
Posted at 73'
Aníbal Godoy (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 71'
Foul by Yannick Carrasco (Belgium).
Posted at 71'
Michael Murillo (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!Posted at 69'
Goal! Belgium 2, Panama 0. Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
Posted at 68'
Yannick Carrasco (Belgium) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 68'
Foul by Michael Murillo (Panama).
Posted at 65'
Attempt blocked. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 65'
Eden Hazard (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 65'
Foul by Aníbal Godoy (Panama).
Posted at 64'
Offside, Panama. Jaime Penedo tries a through ball, but Blas Pérez is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 63'
Substitution, Panama. Ismael Diaz replaces Jose Luis Rodriguez.
SubstitutionPosted at 63'
Substitution, Panama. Gabriel Torres replaces Edgar Bárcenas.
Posted at 63'
Foul by Jan Vertonghen (Belgium).
Posted at 63'
Fidel Escobar (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 62'
Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Gabriel Gómez.
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Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com
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