Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/997322
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 JUNE 2018 28 WORLD CUP SPORTS Belgium down Tunisia in seven goal thriller The red devils looked convincing as Belgium beat Tunisia 5-2 in a convincing performance BELGIUM downed Tunisia as braces from Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku and Chelsea's Eden Hazard and a late goal from Michy Batsh- uayi helped the boys in yellow to cruise past. The Belgians all but secured their place in the round of 16, with Eden Hazard opening the score with an early penalty in the 6th minute where he cool- ly slotted the ball to the bot- tom right corner of the net. Lukaku scored just ten min- utes after Hazard, after a Dries Mertens through ball liberated the big Belgian who did not fail to score in front of goal. Tunisia seemed to bounce back with a goal from Dylan Bronn at the 18th minute, but Lukaku grabbed his second and the third for Belgium with a confident chip just before the half-time break. Just six minutes from the start of the second half, Eden Hazard grabbed his second of the game, all but confirming Belgium's win. The Belgians dominated the rest of the game, with substi- tute Batshuayi failing to score multiple sitters in front of goal. Tunisia did manage a late consolidation goal thanks to Wahbi Khazri's late strike, but their worldcup dream looks to be over unless Panama man- age to beat England on Sun- day. If England beat Panama on Sunday, Tunisia would be the third African nation to be knocked out of the competi- tion, leaving Senegal and Nige- ria to carry on the continent's hopes in the competition. Belgium Tunisia 5 2 Eden Hazard (Pen) 6', Romelu Lukaku 16' Romelu Lukaku 45', Eden Hazard 51', Michy Batshuayi 90' Dylan Bronn 18', Wahbi Khazri 90'