Manchester United and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku bagged a brace today before being subbed off early for fellow United man Marouane Fellaini. Lukaku scored in the 16′ and then again in the third minute of first half injury time, providing the scoring strike that probably ended Tunisia’s World Cup run. Belgium won 5-2 in a match that was much more lopsided than it sounds.
By bagging a brace in his first two World Cup games, Lukaku became the first player to score twice in consecutive World Cup games since the immortal Diego Maradona accomplished the feat for Argentina in 1986.
Lukaku also became the first player to score in both of Belgium’s first two matches of a World Cup since Marc Wilmots in 2002.
His form in international play has been sizzling lately, check out the numbers in the tweets below:
RECORD: Romelu Lukaku has now scored more goals (7) at major tournaments than any other Belgium player.
2014 World Cup: ??
2016 Euros: ????
2018 World Cup: ????????Doesn't look finished yet. pic.twitter.com/MqkbQLXRUJ
— Squawka (@Squawka) June 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/utdxtra/status/1010497137325400065
Big Rom’s four goals at the tournament matches Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo for the most thus far in the tournament, and Belgium are now through to the knockout round. Speaking of Ronaldo, you should definitely read what Cesc Fabregas wrote for the BBC about how Ronaldo’s scoring numbers are a bit inflated right now.
Lukaku left early to rest as the match was well decided long before the final whistle, but there may be some fitness concerns. He did have his ankle taped in the second half, and there are some worries that he may have picked up a knock in this game. We’ll just have to see as Belgium’s toughest group stage game of all, versus England on Thursday, approaches.
At least the Belgians won’t have to worry about a result in that one, while England could be in a similar position. We’ll see after Three Lions’ result versus Panama tomorrow.
Eden Hazard also achieved a brace for Belgium today, making the 27-year-old and Lukaku the first teammates to each score twice in the same game since Toni Kroos and Andre Schurrle in the 2014 semi-final rout over Brazil.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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