World Cup 2018: Belgium v Tunisia
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Lukaku scores Belgium's second against Tunisia
Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard both scored twice as Belgium strengthened their lead above England at the top of Group G by crushing Tunisia with a devastating attacking display.
While Roberto Martinez's side are not through to the last 16 yet, a win for England over Panama in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday will see the Red Devils and Three Lions progress.
That would leave their meeting in Kaliningrad on Thursday to decide who tops the group and it is Belgium who currently hold the upper hand there, with their sparkling finishing in the sunshine at the Spartak Stadium leaving their goal difference significantly better off.
Belgium attacked from the off and took only five minutes to take the lead, when Hazard was barged over by Syam Ben Youssef just inside the box and got up to send Tunisia keeper Farouk Ben Mustapha the wrong way from the spot.
Things quickly got worse for Tunisia when Ali Maaloul's heavy touch on the halfway line allowed Dries Mertens to nip in and release Lukaku, who found a perfect low finish.
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Is this the miss of the World Cup so far?
The North African side, needing a win to reignite their own hopes of progress, gave themselves hope when Dylan Bronn got on the end of Wahbi Khazri's whipped free-kick just 109 seconds later.
But they could not compete with Belgium's vastly superior firepower and Lukaku gave the Red Devils breathing space once more with a dinked finish from a Thomas Meunier pass just before half-time.
Hazard added his second goal soon after the break, racing on to a precise Toby Alderweireld pass and rounding the keeper to fire home.
That made sure of the points, but Belgium were not finished yet. Substitute Michy Batshuayi, who also had a shot cleared off the line and hit the bar from close range, finally found the target from Youri Tielemans' cross.
Tunisia did manage a late consolation, when Khazri swept home Hamdi Nagguez's cross but, unless Panama beat England, they will become the third African team to be eliminated, leaving Nigeria and Senegal to carry their continent's hopes in this competition.
Lukaku equals Maradona achievement - the stats
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Belgium have won each of their last six World Cup group stage matches - winning their last one in 2002, all three in 2014 and their opening two of this tournament.
Tunisia are now winless in 13 World Cup matches (D4 L9) - losing their last four in a row.
Lukaku has now scored more goals in major international tournaments (European Championship and World Cups) than any other Belgium player (seven).
Lukaku has scored 17 goals in his last 11 matches for Belgium, failing to score in just one of those matches (against Portugal earlier this month).
Belgium have scored five goals in a single World Cup match for the first time in their history.
Lukaku is the first player to score two or more goals in consecutive World Cup appearances since Diego Maradona in 1986, who scored doubles against England and Belgium.
Hazard's penalty was Belgium's second quickest goal in a World Cup match (5:59), behind only Leopold Anoul's goal against England in 1954, in the fifth minute.
Belgium have won 11 of their 12 competitive matches under Roberto Martinez (D1), scoring 51 goals and conceding just eight in those games.
Hazard has been involved in 23 goals in his last 21 appearances for Belgium (11 goals, 12 assists).
What's next?
Belgium finish off their campaign against England at Kaliningrad Stadium next Thursday and Tunisia face Panama in what could be a battle of the Group G basement sides at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk (both 19:00 BST).
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Belgium
1Courtois
2Alderweireld
20Boyata
5Vertonghen
15Meunier
7De Bruyne
6Witsel
11Carrasco
14MertensSubstituted forTielemansat 86'minutes
10HazardSubstituted forBatshuayiat 68'minutes
9LukakuSubstituted forFellainiat 59'minutes
Substitutes
3Vermaelen
4Kompany
8Fellaini
12Mignolet
13Casteels
16T Hazard
17Tielemans
18Januzaj
19Dembélé
21Batshuayi
22Chadli
23Dendoncker
Tunisia
1Ben Mustapha
11BronnSubstituted forNagguezat 24'minutes
2S Ben YoussefSubstituted forBenalouaneat 41'minutes
4Meriah
12Maâloul
13SassiBooked at 14minsSubstituted forSlitiat 59'minutes
17Skhiri
7Khaoui
8F Ben Youssef
10Khazri
9Badri
Substitutes
3Benalouane
5Haddadi
6Bedoui
14Ben Amor
15Khalil
16Mathlouthi
18Srarfi
19Khalifa
20Chaalali
21Nagguez
23Sliti
Referee:
Jair Marrufo
Attendance:
44,190
Match Stats
Home TeamBelgiumAway TeamTunisia
Possession
Home50%
Away50%
Shots
Home23
Away16
Shots on Target
Home12
Away5
Corners
Home5
Away2
Fouls
Home12
Away13
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Belgium 5, Tunisia 2.
Full TimePosted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, Belgium 5, Tunisia 2.
Goal!Posted at 90'+3'
Goal! Belgium 5, Tunisia 2. Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Hamdi Nagguez.
Posted at 90'+3'
Saif-Eddine Khaoui (Tunisia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+3'
Foul by Axel Witsel (Belgium).
Posted at 90'+2'
Attempt missed. Michy Batshuayi (Belgium) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Naim Sliti (Tunisia).
Posted at 90'+2'
Michy Batshuayi (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt missed. Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is too high. Assisted by Naim Sliti.
Goal!Posted at 90'
Goal! Belgium 5, Tunisia 1. Michy Batshuayi (Belgium) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Youri Tielemans with a cross.
Posted at 88'
Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Yohan Benalouane.
Posted at 86'
Offside, Belgium. Yannick Carrasco tries a through ball, but Michy Batshuayi is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 86'
Substitution, Belgium. Youri Tielemans replaces Dries Mertens.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Saif-Eddine Khaoui (Tunisia).
Posted at 84'
Marouane Fellaini (Belgium) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 82'
Attempt missed. Axel Witsel (Belgium) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
Posted at 81'
Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Ali Maâloul.
Posted at 81'
Attempt blocked. Michy Batshuayi (Belgium) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Posted at 81'
Attempt saved. Michy Batshuayi (Belgium) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
Posted at 80'
Attempt missed. Thomas Meunier (Belgium) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
Posted at 79'
Michy Batshuayi (Belgium) hits the bar with a left footed shot from very close range.
Posted at 79'
Attempt saved. Yannick Carrasco (Belgium) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Yohan Benalouane (Tunisia).
Posted at 79'
Dries Mertens (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 78'
Anice Badri (Tunisia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 78'
Foul by Marouane Fellaini (Belgium).
Posted at 77'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 76'
Delay in match Saif-Eddine Khaoui (Tunisia) because of an injury.
Posted at 76'
Attempt blocked. Michy Batshuayi (Belgium) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dries Mertens with a through ball.
Posted at 74'
Offside, Belgium. Thomas Meunier tries a through ball, but Dries Mertens is caught offside.
Posted at 73'
Foul by Ellyes Skhiri (Tunisia).
Posted at 73'
Marouane Fellaini (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 73'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 72'
Delay in match Jan Vertonghen (Belgium) because of an injury.
Posted at 71'
Offside, Belgium. Dries Mertens tries a through ball, but Michy Batshuayi is caught offside.
Posted at 70'
Attempt missed. Saif-Eddine Khaoui (Tunisia) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a set piece situation.
Posted at 69'
Naim Sliti (Tunisia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 69'
Foul by Dedryck Boyata (Belgium).
Posted at 69'
Hand ball by Dries Mertens (Belgium).
SubstitutionPosted at 68'
Substitution, Belgium. Michy Batshuayi replaces Eden Hazard.
Show more updates
goal
Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com
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