Two second-half Romelu Lukaku goals capped a dominant Belgium display as they hit form to beat the Republic of Ireland in UEFA EURO 2016 Group E.
Belgium were seeking to bounce back from their 2-0 loss to Italy and Kevin De Bruyne, a pre-match injury doubt, started behind Lukaku and was soon controlling play. He set up Eden Hazard for a good chance shot over and then the Manchester City playmaker was denied from distance by Darren Randolph. Late in the first half De Bruyne sent in a corner met by the head of Toby Alderweireld and cleared off the line by Wes Hoolahan.
Inevitably it was De Bruyne who made the opening goal early in the second period, cutting in from the right and passing for Lukaku to sweep in his fifth in six Belgium games. It was 2-0 when Axel Witsel rose to head in Thomas Meunier’s cross. The third arrived as Meunier won the ball in the corner and fed Hazard, who ran around an assistant referee before surging into the box and teeing up Lukaku for his second.
A towering header for the second goal ended any Irish hopes in Bordeaux, and Witsel also did his midfield job well, sweeping up and starting moves to ensure the front four could flourish.
While Belgium had been stifled by Italy in the opener (just as the Italians subsequently did a clinical job on Sweden), Ireland could not handle an attack orchestrated by De Bruyne with Lukaku ahead of him and Hazard and Yannick Carrasco – later Dries Martens – on the flanks. It was also notable that Lukaku went over to celebrate with coach Marc Wilmots after his breakthrough strike.
Ireland have no choice against Italy on matchday three: they will need to win and will need to attack. They did not take a negative approach on Saturday but Belgium never let them settle and forced their opponents back by the sheer vim of their attacking, both from the front four and the overlapping full-backs.
Speaking after the match, Lukaku said “I think we played well in attack and we played well in defence too. We did what we needed to do: we needed the three points and we got them, playing very well. And the result was also convincing. So we can only be positive.
“Italy are a very good team with a fantastic coach. That was a bit of a setback, but it woke us up for today’s match. Today everything we did on the ball was good, our defence was solid, and we forwards did what was expected of us. It was all positive. Now we have to make sure that we only grow during the tournament and keep playing better and better.”
