Romelu Lukaku stood together with his again not solely to aim, however to the raucous mass of crimson behind it. From someplace inside that throng, a plume of pink smoke billowed in direction of the roof of the stadium. It’d as effectively have been a warning to Romania, however only one minute into this essential Euro 2024 conflict, they didn’t have time to heed it.

Lukaku, so typically maligned for his endeavours with Belgium, executed his hold-up to perfection, heading off Andrei Burca and cushioning the ball into the stride of Youri Tielemans. The midfielder did the remaining, driving the ball low and arduous previous Florin Nita.

Kevin De Bruyne was been named Participant of the Match.

Uefa’s Technical Observer Panel stated: “He made the distinction for Belgium as they claimed their first factors. As soon as once more, he was the important thing participant for his aspect.”

4 groups are all locked on three factors. Group E goes right down to a last day shootout subsequent Wednesday. Listed below are the 2 fixtures:

90+4 minutes: Belgium get the job achieved!

After a shock defeat to Slovakia of their opening match, Belgium wanted to come back right here and get the win. The implications of beating Romania imply that each one 4 groups in Group E have three factors after two video games every.

Will probably be a nail-biting finish to the group phases for all of them. Youri Tielemans and Kevin De Bruyne scored the targets, Belgium take the win and transfer one step nearer to the last-16.

90 minutes: 4 minutes of added time to play.

85 minutes: Belgium attempt to put the sport to mattress with Leandro Trossard slipped into the field on the correct hand aspect. He holds onto the ball slightly too lengthy and his sq. go to Lukaku is blocked and cleared.

82 minutes: That aim needs to be sufficient for Belgium. There was a VAR test to see whether or not the aim ought to stand as De Bruyne was presumably offside.

The consequence fell Belgium’s manner and so they have a two aim lead eventually.

79 minutes: Has Kevin De Bruyne received this recreation for Belgium?

A hopeful ball is punted up the pitch by Koen Casteels and drops superbly for De Bruyne who makes a run in between the centre-backs.

Because the ball bounces into the field, De Bruyne beats Florin Nita to it and pokes it into the bottom, previous the goalkeeper and over the road.

78 minutes: Yannick Carrasco and Orel Mangala have been introduced on for Belgium with goalscorer Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku being changed.

75 minutes: quarter-hour to play in Cologne. Belgium are firmly within the recreation administration mode with substitutes being introduced on to shore up the defence and hold Romania at bay.