Summary
Moments
Attempt saved. Yannick Carrasco (Bélgica) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Dries Mertens.
Foul by Thomas Meunier (Bélgica).
Attempt saved. Eden Hazard (Bélgica) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Thomas Meunier.
Goal! Bélgica 1, Panamá 0. Dries Mertens (Bélgica) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner.
Attempt saved. Michael Murillo (Panamá) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Edgar Bárcenas.
Goal! Bélgica 2, Panamá 0. Romelu Lukaku (Bélgica) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
Goal! Bélgica 3, Panamá 0. Romelu Lukaku (Bélgica) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Eden Hazard with a through ball following a fast break.
Foul by Thomas Meunier (Bélgica).Attempt saved. Eden Hazard (Bélgica) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Thomas Meunier.Goal! Bélgica 1, Panamá 0. Dries Mertens (Bélgica) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner.Attempt saved. Michael Murillo (Panamá) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Edgar Bárcenas.Goal! Bélgica 2, Panamá 0. Romelu Lukaku (Bélgica) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.Goal! Bélgica 3, Panamá 0. Romelu Lukaku (Bélgica) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Eden Hazard with a through ball following a fast break.Statistics
Player Ratings
Line-ups
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 15-yard volley early in the second half.
Panama, 55th in the rankings, had a chance to snatch an equaliser but Belgium goalkeeper 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 a pass from Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne. Lukaku then added a third with a chipped finish after a fine through ball from Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.