Belgium ease past Egypt | The Daily Star
12:00 AM, June 08, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:00 AM, June 08, 2018

Belgium ease past Egypt

Belgium hammered the final nail into Egypt's halting World Cup warm-up campaign with an assured 3-0 win in Brussels on Wednesday that settled some nerves among the fancied hosts, who lacked injured defensive linchpin Vincent Kompany.

Sticking with a three-man defence, Belgium showed more cutting edge up front than in their goalless outing at home on Saturday against Portugal.

Romelu Lukaku thumped home from close range in the 27th minute when Egypt's 45-year-old keeper Essam El-Hadary spilled from Eden Hazard. Chelsea midfielder Hazard then made it 2-0 11 minutes later after a weaving Yannick Carrasco cut the ball back from the goal line.

Batshuayi, on for Lukaku, set up Marouane Fellaini for a final flourish in stoppage time to complete a sixth straight game without a win for Egypt.

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez raised eyebrows by slotting Laurent Ciman into skipper Kompany's number four shirt and keeping him on for 90 minutes.

Ciman is officially only on the waiting list for Russia in case the Manchester City man, or possibly Barcelona's Thomas Vermaelen are injured.


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