Belgium got off to the perfect start at Euro 2020 with a 3-0 win against Russia at the Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg.
2020 European Championship
3-0
Match Reports
Romelu Lukaku grabbed two goals - Belgium's first and third - in what was a comfortable night for the Red Devils, as they did not need to get out of second gear in order to beat Russia.
The 28-year-old was able to capitalise on a mix-up in the Russia defence and fire past Anton Shunin to give Belgium a 1-0 lead after just 10 minutes.
An injury to Timothy Castagne in the 27th minute meant that he made way for Thomas Meunier, who was able to double Belgium's lead seven minutes after coming on.
Dries Mertens' whipped cross from the left-hand side was not dealt with by Shunin, as he palmed the ball into the path of Meunier, who was there to fire into the back of the net.
Belgium dominated proceedings from there on out, with Russia barely creating anything, and Lukaku added the cherry on top of the cake in the 88th minute.
Lukaku made a perfectly timed run and Meunier played a ball in behind the Russia defence, which led to the Belgium striker firing a first-time shot past Shunin to cap off an easy night's work for Roberto Martinez's side.
Next, Belgium will face Denmark in Copenhagen on Thursday, while Russia will take on Finland, again in Saint Petersburg.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
10' GOAL! Belgium 1-0 Russia (Lukaku)
14' Fernandes' header too straight
16' Ozdoev's long shot wide out
18' CLOSE! Dendoncker's shot over the bar
22' CHANCE! Hazard's shot stopped by Shunin
29' Alderweireld's long shot over the bar
33' GOAL! Belgium 2-0 Russia (Meunier)
40' Meunier goes down in the box but ref says no penalty!
47' Carrasco's shot over the bar
47' Zobnin's long shot wide out
70' Sub! Hazard replaces Mertens
84' Boyata almost scores an own goal
89' GOAL! Belgium 3-0 Russia (Lukaku)
Line-ups
Belgium XI: Vertonghen, Mertens, Alderweireld, Courtois, Lukaku, Boyata, T Hazard, Carrasco, Dendoncker, Tielemans, Castagne
Subs: Vermaelen, Mignolet, Hazard, Chadli, Benteke, Sels, Meunier, Praet, Trossard, Batshuayi, Denayer, J. Doku
Russia XI: Zhirkov, Shunin, Dzyuba, Semenov, M. Fernandes, Ozdoev, Zobnin, Dzhikiya, Kuzyaev, Barinov, Golovin
Subs: Ionov, A. Zabolotny, Cheryshev, Y. Dyupin, Karavaev, Miranchuk, Zhemaletdinov, M. Safonov, A. Sobolev, R. Evgenjev, I. Diveev, M. Mukhin