Belgium vs. Tunisia 2018 World Cup: Red Devils up 4

Romelu Lukaku celebrates with Kevin De Bruyne after scoring Belgium’s third goal. (Christian Hartmann/Reuters)
Belgium (1-0-0, 3 points) vs. Tunisia (0-0-1, 0 points)
Group G, Spartak Stadium, Moscow
Hazard’s day is done
Up by three goals, Belgium takes Eden Hazard out of the game in the 68th minute. Like teammate Romelu Lukaku, Hazard scored twice in this game. Michy Batshuayi comes onto the field in Hazard’s place.
Lukaku leaves game
Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, who scored twice in the first half, exits the game and Marouane Fellaini comes in. Lukaku was walking with a slight limp as he headed to the sideline.
With back-to-back two-goal games, Lukaku became the first player to record consecutive games with multiple goals at the World Cup since Argentina’s Diego Maradona in 1986, according to ESPN Stats Info.
Another goal for Belgium
Belgium starts the second half by scoring yet another goal. Eden Hazard got in front of Tunisia’s goalkeeper in the box and sent the ball straight into the middle of the net. That’s Hazard second goal of the day. Belgium leads 4-1.
Halftime: Belgium 3, Tunisia 1
After a wild first half, Belgium leads Tunisia and is on its way to nearly securing a spot in the knockout stage. The half started with three goals in 20 minutes and ended with another one in stoppage time. Two of Belgium’s goals came from Romelu Lukaku, a striker for Manchester United and Belgium’s all-time leading goal scorer. Meanwhile, Tunisia lost two players due to injury.
Belgium, which had gone seven straight World Cup games without scoring in the first half, attacked throughout the first 45 minutes. The Red Devils took 10 shots, seven of which were on goal, against Tunisia goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha, who started in place of injured goalkeeper Mouez Hassen.
Belgium stretches its lead
During first half stoppage time, just before the whistle, Romelu Lukaku scores his second goal of the day, making this his second straight two-goal game. Belgium extends its lead to 3-1, and Lukaku is now tied with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the Golden Boot, which goes to the player with the most goals in the World Cup.
Another injury
Just a few minutes before halftime, Tunisia’s Syam Ben Youssef has been taken off the field on a stretcher. Yohan Benalouane comes in for Ben Youssef. This is now the third first-half injury substitution Tunisia has made in its first two matches.
Early scoring frenzy
Belgium and Tunisia combined for three early goals, marking the first time since 2006 that many goals have been scored in the first 20 minutes of a World Cup game, according to ESPN Stats Info.
Dylan Bronn out
Just after scoring his first international goal, Tunisia’s Dylan Bronn leaves the game with an injury, which appeared to be to his left lower leg. Hamdi Nagguez takes Bronn’s place in the 24th minute. It’s the second straight match Tunisia has been forced to make an early injury substitution.
Tunisia responds fast
After Belgium seemed poised to run away with the game, Tunisia’s Saif-Eddine Khaoui earns a free kick and Dylan Bronn heads the ball from the center of the box into the bottom right of the net. Wahbi Khazri picks up the assist off a wonderful service. It’s a shocking response from Tunisia.
Belgium pouring it on
Belgium continues to take shots, and Romelu Lukaku’s attempt in space sails past Farouk Ben Mustapha to make this a 2-0 early lead for Belgium in the 16th minute. That’s Lukaku’s third goal in Belgium’s first two matches of this World Cup. He was sprung free after a Tunisia turnover near midfield.
Belgium, goal!
Six minutes into the game, Belgium’s Eden Hazard draws a foul just inside the penalty area, a call confirmed by VAR. On the penalty kick, Hazard sends the ball into the left of the net, while goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha stayed in the middle. Belgium is attacking early, and it has already paid off. The Red Devils hadn’t scored a goal in the first half of their last seven World Cup games.
Starting lineups announced
Belgium keeps the same lineup from its opener against Panama, while Tunisia makes two changes. Farouk Ben Mustapha, who played most of the game against England, will start in place of injured goalkeeper Mouez Hassen, and Saîf-Eddine Khaoui will take the spot of Naim Sliti.
Opening thoughts
In its five World Cup showings, Tunisia has never made it out of the group stage, and a loss against Belgium would make it difficult for the Eagles of Carthage to advance for the first time. Tunisia will be without goalkeeper Mouez Hassen, who left the opener against England with a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Belgium could secure a spot in the knockout stage if it beats Tunisia and England defeats Panama. Even though Belgium won its opener, 3-0, the team was unable to score in the first half against a Panama team making its World Cup debut.
When: Saturday, June 23, 8 a.m. Eastern
How to watch on TV: Fox.
How to stream online: Fox Sports and the Fox Soccer Match Pass apps and FoxSports.com.
How to watch in Spanish: Telemundo.
How to watch in Canada: Bell Media’s TSN and CTV networks, the TSN GO app and TSN.ca/live.
Team profiles
Belgium
Last showing in the World Cup: Quarterfinals, 2014.

Best finish: Fourth place, 1986.

Notable: In 2014, Belgium finished the group stage with three wins. With victories over Tunisia and England, Belgium could do the same this year.

FIFA world ranking: 3. ELO world ranking: 7.

Tunisia

Last showing in the World Cup: Group stage, 2006.

Best finish: Group stage, 2006, 2002, 1998, 1978.

Notable: Tunisia has not won a World Cup game since 1978 when it defeated Mexico, 3-1, in its first World Cup match.

FIFA world ranking: 21. ELO world ranking: 48.

What’s next 
Belgium: vs. England in Kaliningrad, Thursday, 2 p.m.
Tunisia: vs. Panama in Saransk, Thursday, 2 p.m.
Complete World Cup scores, standings and schedule
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