Lukaku, Hazard put Belgium on the brink of last 16

BBC
BBC
Hazard, Lukaku celebrate Belgium thrashing of Tunisia

Premier League pair Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard both scored twice as Belgium all but secured qualification into the knockout round with an easy victory over Tunisia.

Lukaku’s double means the Manchester United striker is now joint top scorer at the tournament with four goals, alongside Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

Chelsea’s Hazard opened the scoring from the spot in the sixth minute after a VAR review confirmed he had been fouled just inside the area by Syam Ben Youssef.

Lukaku grabbed the first of his goals when he converted Dries Mertens’ ball to double Belgium’s lead.

That advantage was reduced only 109 seconds later when Dylan Bronn, who later came off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, headed in the equaliser.

But in first-half stoppage time, Lukaku re-established the two-goal lead with an excellent dinked finished past keeper Farouk Ben Mustapha.

Hazard scored his second early in the second half when he converted Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne’s brilliant raking pass.

Belgium substitute Michy Batshuayi had three chances to score a fifth before he finally managed to find the net with a low finish from Youri Tielemans’ cross in the 90th minute.

Sunderland forward Wahbi Khazri scored a stoppage-time consolation goal for Tunisia, who are heading for elimination.

The Red Devils lead Group G with six points. England are second with three, and will book their passage into the knockout round if they defeat Panama on Sunday (13:00 BST) – a match which will be broadcast live on BBC One and on this website.

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