Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Marouane Fellaini on target as Belgium brush Egypt aside
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Updated 06/06/2018 at 21:13 GMT
International friendly - King Baudouin Stadium – Belgium 3 (Lukaku 27, Hazard 38, Fellaini 90+2) Egypt 0
Belgium's forward Eden Hazard (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the international friendly football match between Belgium and Egypt at the King Baudouin Stadium, in Brussels, on June 6, 2018.
Image credit: Eurosport
Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Marouane Fellaini were on target as Belgium eased to a 3-0 friendly win in their World Cup warm-up against Egypt in Brussels.
With Egypt offering little attacking threat in the absence of Mohamed Salah, England’s Group G opponents in Russia enjoyed a comfortable night which was more of a training session for their attacking players.
Hazard in particular shone in the first half for the nation littered with Premier League stars. His effort was rebounded into Lukaku’s path for the opener while the Chelsea forward latched onto Yannick Carrasco’s cross to score their second.
A myriad of substitutions ruined the flow after the break, but Belgium boss Roberto Martinez will be buoyed by the display – which was capped off by Fellaini tapping home from Michy Batshuyi’s cross.
TALKING POINT: Belgium back in the groove
After a 0-0 draw with Portugal drew boos from the home crowd on Saturday, Martinez will be relieved to see his side return to form as their build-up to Russia continues.
Having moulded their friendlies on upcoming group opponents – Egypt (Tunisia) and Portugal (England) – the Red Devils face Costa Rica on Monday, a week before they play Panama in Russia. If they continue in this mood, they’ll pick up six points at a canter heading into the final group game against England, where they will undeniably be favourites.
Gareth Southgate will have made plenty of notes from tonight’s game, though he will be frustrated to see their defence rarely tested.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Eden Hazard (Belgium)
Like Lukaku, Hazard only played the opening 45 minutes, but he ran the show in Brussels. The Chelsea playmaker linked up nicely with Kevin De Bruyne, Dries Mertens and Carrasco, while he before he had a significant part to play in the first goal before getting on the scoresheet himself. A positive half from the Belgian captain.
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Belgium's forward Eden Hazard (C) vies for the ball with Egypt's midfielder Tarek Hamed (R)
Image credit: Eurosport
PLAYER RATINGS
- Belgium: Courtois 6, Alderweireld 6, Ciman 6, Vertonghen 6, Meunier 7, Witsel 6, De Bruyne 7, Carrasco 7, Hazard 8, Mertens 7, Lukaku 7..subs Fellaini 6, Batshuayi 6, Januzaj 6, Chadli 6 T.Hazard 6, Boyata N/A
- Egypt: El Hadary 5, Fathi 4, Gabr 5, Hegazi 5, Abdelshafy 5, Hamed 5, Elneny 4, Said 5, Sobhi 5, Warda 5, Mohsen 5...subs: Elshenawy 6, Trezeguet 6, Morsy 6, Elmohamady 6, Gaber 6
KEY MOMENTS
- 15 - SAVE! That really is nice play from Belgium. Hazard plays a quick one-two with De Bruyne before the Chelsea forward plays it over to Mertens, whose strike is tipped over the bar by El Hadary.
- 21 - WIDE! Not quite sure how Lukaku has stabbed this wide?! Mertens' low cross picks out Lukaku between two defenders, but he opts to wait and bring it onto his left foot. However, from barely six yards out, he fires wide of the mark...
- 24 - WIDE! But this time it's Egypt who go close. And Mohsen should really do better as well, but he sends a headed wide from Abdelshafy's cross.
- 27 - GOAL! Lukaku opens the scoring for Belgium! It's his 31st goal for the Red Devils, and it comes after he reacts quickest from an Eden Hazard attempt, which El Hadary parried kindly into the Manchester United forward's path.
- 38 - GOAL! Too easy for Belgium, and it's now two for the hosts. It's captain Hazard on target this time, as he burries the ball beyond El Hadary after Carrasco chased down a lost cause out wide when Fathy had the ball. Scuffed effort from Hazard, too, but he won't care.
- 90+2’ GOAL! It's the icing on the cake for Belgium as Batshuayi takes the ball to the byline before cutting it back for Fellaini, who taps the ball into the empty net.
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