Romelu Lukaku scores twice as dominant Belgium beat Panama 3-0 in World Cup

Belgium put in a dominant performance to beat Panama 3-0 in Monday’s Group G fixture of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Karzan Sulaivany 2018/06/18 16:39

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Belgium put in a dominant performance to beat Panama 3-0 in Monday’s Group G fixture of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Despite a slow start and a goalless first-half, the European side displayed their class immediately after the restart when Dries Mertens struck a sweet volley in the 47th minute.

Belgium added a second goal in the 69th minute through striker Romelu Lukaku who met an intricate Kevin De Bruyne cross with his head.

The powerful forward added a third in the 75th minute with a delicate chip after a blistering counter-attack which began in Belgium’s half of the pitch.

Belgium will play Tunisia on June 23 before a massive clash with England on June 28. Panama, meanwhile, plays England next on June 24 before a game against Tunisia on June 28.

Belgium's forward Romelu Lukaku (left) shoots to score, his second goal, past Panama's goalkeeper Jaime Penedo (right) during the 2018 World Cup Group G football match between Belgium and Panama at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi, Russia, on June 18, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Odd Andersen)

Earlier in the day, Sweden defeated South Korea 1-0 in Group F through a second-half penalty scored by Andreas Granqvist.

Elsewhere in Group G, England defeated Tunisia 2-1 after late heroics by their captain Harry Kane.

Kane scored the first goal of the match with a header after 11 minutes before a controversial penalty in the 35th minute, converted by Ferjani Sassi, brought Tunisia back into the game.

England left it late after Kane scored the winner deep into second-half stoppage time to give the Three Lions an important victory. They play Panama next on June 24 before Belgium on June 28.

Tunisia's midfielder Ellyes Skhiri (left) vies for the ball with England's forward Harry Kane during the 2018 World Cup Group G football match between Tunisia and England at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, Russia, on June 18, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Nicolas Asfouri)

The 2018 FIFA World Cup takes place between June 14 and July 15 with 32 teams from five different confederations competing.

The tournament has already provided some mouth-watering match-ups and unexpected results, including a memorable Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick against Spain, the first win in 20 years for Iran, and shocking draws for Brazil and Argentina against Switzerland and Iceland respectively.