Belgium outclass Panama in 3-0 win

ByReuters

Published 18/06/2018 at 17:57 GMT+1

SOCHI, Russia, June 18 (Reuters) - Belgium's creativity and power proved too much for World Cup debutants Panama as the Group G favourites overcame the heroics of goalkeeper Jaime Penedo and a massed defence to run out 3-0 winners on Monday.

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Image credit: TNT Sports

It took a wonderful dipping volley from Dries Mertens on the right-hand edge of the area just after halftime to break the deadlock, however, giving Penedo no chance after a first half in which he had defied Mertens, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku.

Hazard laid the ball off to Kevin De Bruyne who flipped a diagonal ball with the outside of his foot through for a lurking Lukaku to head home in the 69th minute.

The Manchester United striker made it 3-0 in the 75th, latching on to a through pass from Hazard and chipping over Penedo.

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Belgium, unbeaten in their last 20 matches, will now be full of confidence for games against Tunisia and England. (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald in Moscow, editing by Ed Osmond)

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