Belgium beat debutants Panama

Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates after he scored his side’s third goal.

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 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, 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 missing 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 over the advancing Penedo.

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)

More second-half delight for Belgium – the stats

• 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.
• Romelu Lukaku has been directly involved in 13 of Belgium’s last 19 goals (11 goals, two assists).
• 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). – bbc.com