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Football

18th Jun 2018

Belgium beat Panama with two moments of individual brilliance

It wasn't a classic World Cup game, but it featured one of the goals of the tournament so far

Robert Redmond

Belgium versus Panama wasn’t a classic World Cup game, but it featured one of the goals of the tournament so far.

After a stodgy opening half, where Belgium struggled to break down the stubborn Central American side, they eventually took the lead with a brilliant goal just after the break.

Roberto Martinez’s broke down the right wing and their cross only half-cleared by Panama. The ball landed with Dries Mertens at the edge of the penalty area and the Napoli forward hit a perfect first-time dipping volley into the far corner.

Even against such modest opposition, it was a sensational strike.

Belgium’s talented players then turned on the style, comfortably dispatching their hard-working, but limited, opponents.

Romelu Lukaku scored twice, the first of which was a header set-up by a stunning pass from Kevin De Bruyne.

The 3-0 victory put Martinez’s team top of Group G ahead of England’s game against Tunisia on Monday night. Next up for Belgium is Tunisia on Saturday.