Match Review: Belgium v. Tunisia

Belgium v Tunisia
Score: 5-2
Goals: Hazard 6' (p), Lukaku 16', Bronn 18', Lukaku 45+3, Hazard 51', Batshuayi 90', Khazri 90+3'
Possession: 52-48
Shots: 23-15
Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (2G)

Belgium secured their place in the round of 16 with a thumping 5-2 win over Tunisia in Moscow. The Belgians came out at the start of the first half looking utterly dominant. They were able to open the scoring just six minutes in when Eden Hazard was brought down just inside the box by Syam Ben Youssef. The referee reviewed the play at the VAR and ended up awarding Belgium a pen. Hazard stepped up and made no mistakes as he slotted it into the bottom left corner leaving the keeper stranded in the middle of the goal. Belgium continued to pile on the pressure as the early stages of the half continued. They doubled their advantage just ten minutes later on a 3v2 breakaway. Mertens and Hazard streaked forward with Lukaku to the left of them. Mertens was able to draw the defenders in and laid it off to the Manchester United forward. Lukaku took one touch and then buried it with a cross-goal shot that went right into the bottom corner. Belgium looked as though they would begin to run away with it. But just two minutes later Tunisia cut the lead in half. Tunisia were awarded a free kick on the left side and captain and star winger Khazri stepped up to take. He put in an absolute peach of a ball leaving the defense no chance as fullback Dylan Bronn headed home. This gave Tunisia some life in a match they had no business competing in. They really grew into the match and started controlling possession a bit more and keeping the Belgians. You almost would've thought if they could make it into halftime only down 1, they could actually have a chance of taking some points out of this match. Unfortunately with the last kick of the first half Belgium killed that dream. PSG fullback Meunier picked it up at the edge of the box and weighted a perfect ball into the path of Lukaku who chipped the keeper with beautiful composure. It was the ideal way for Belgium to head into the half and left Tunisia in despair. The second half began, and Belgium was back to their old ways. They scored once again just 6 minutes into the half but this time from open play. Midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne picked the ball up in midfield and played an absolutely sensational over the top ball right into the path of Hazard who took it past the keeper and slotted it home. It was a brilliant goal that essentially sealed both teams fates. The match continued with Belgium dominating most of the play. Substitute striker Michy Batshuayi came on and in all honesty, could've had a 30-minute hat-trick. Unfortunately for him, he had to settle for just one. Young midfielder Youri Tielimans played a beautiful curling ball towards the Dortmund striker who took it on the half volley and put into the back of the net. Tunisia were able to get a cheeky consolation late on to the delight of their fans. Hamdi Naguez ran down towards the byline and squared it perfectly to Khazri who slid it past Courtois to finish the match. For Belgium, this sends them through, but England will be waiting on the final matchday looking to overtake first place. For Tunisia, they are out but did look positive during a couple spells in Russia.