A Romelu Lukaku brace, combined with Dries Mertens’ wonderful effort, fired Belgium to a 3-0 victory over Panama in their Group G encounter.
Lukaku’s goals means that he moves into second spot on the top scorer’s chart, drawing level with Diego Costa and Denis Cheryshev on two each, one behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Panama had done well to go into the half-time break with the score goalless, but the European side’s quality prevailed in the second-half.
Belgium grabbed the lead in the 47th minute with a wonder strike from Mertens.
The Napoli midfielder waited for the ball to drop from a headed clearance and hit a fine volley from the corner of the 18 yard area.
The ball flew across goal into the opposite corner to put Belgium ahead.
They would then extend their lead with a little over 20 minutes to go through Lukaku.
Kevin De Bruyne curled the ball with the outside of his right foot across goal and Lukaku was in place to meet it with a diving header which made it 2-0 to put Belgium in charge of the game.
Belgium made it three a matter of minutes later and it was Lukaku again who found the net.
A Panama move broke down on the edge of the Belgium box and the ball was quickly played forward to Hazard.
The midfielder played it through to the Manchester United striker and he clipped the ball over the keeper to make it 3-0.
Panama had done well to go into the half-time break with the score goalless, but the European side’s quality prevailed in the second-half.
Belgium grabbed the lead in the 47th minute with a wonder strike from Mertens.
The Napoli midfielder waited for the ball to drop from a headed clearance and hit a fine volley from the corner of the 18 yard area.
The ball flew across goal into the opposite corner to put Belgium ahead.
They would then extend their lead with a little over 20 minutes to go through Lukaku.
Kevin De Bruyne curled the ball with the outside of his right foot across goal and Lukaku was in place to meet it with a diving header which made it 2-0 to put Belgium in charge of the game.
Belgium made it three a matter of minutes later and it was Lukaku again who found the net.
A Panama move broke down on the edge of the Belgium box and the ball was quickly played forward to Hazard.
The midfielder played it through to the Manchester United striker and he clipped the ball over the keeper to make it 3-0.
