Red Devils bounce back with emphatic win over Ireland

Romelu Lukaku scored twice as Belgium cruised to an easy 3-0 victory over Ireland in Bordeaux, boosting their chances of making the second round of Euro 2016.

The Everton forward opened the scoring three minutes after half-time when he steered the ball into the net after Kevin De Bruyne had broken through to set him up. Axel Witsel doubled Belgium’s lead on the hour when he headed home Thomas Meunier’s teasing cross. And Lukaku wrapped up the points with a close-range shot after an Eden Hazard pass found him unmarked in the penalty area.

Belgium were a team transformed since last week’s opening game, a 2-0 defeat to Italy. Not only was it Belgium’s first clean sheet in nine matches, it was their biggest winning scoreline at a major international tournament in 46 years. Lukaku, who had been subdued against the Italians, has now scored six times in as many matches for Belgium and is the first Red Devil to score twice in a tournament since 1998.

The victory puts Belgium in second place in the group with three points, behind Italy on six, with Ireland and Sweden on one point each. The Red Devils play their final group game on Wednesday night, against Sweden.

Photo: Manuel Blondeau/Icon Sport