Kane saves the day for England against Tunisia
Striker heads in the winner in injury time to give Three Lions a 2-1 victory
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AGulf News Report
star-studded Belgium came alive in the second half to rout debutants Panama 3-0 in their opening Group G World Cup encounter in Sochi yesterday.
Romelu Lukaku, who was the topscorer in the Red Devils’ qualifying campaign in the road to Russia, struck twice after Dries Mertens opened the account with a scorching volley soon after the match resumed in the second session.
After struggling to find the net before halftime, the world No. 3 ranked team needed only two minutes to open the scoring in the second half. Mertens scored with a well-struck one-timer from just inside the area after the Panamanian defence failed to clear a ball. His shot went over Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo and into the top far corner.
The floodgates opened soon after that when the awesome combination of Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne paved the way for Lukaku to strike with a diving header inside the box. In the 75th minute, the Manchester United striker put his name on the scoresheet again to keep his cool and slot one past a sprawled Penedo.
Panama, the central American side, did well to hold Belgium’s supremely talented team at bay till halftime. Their fans largely outnumbered the Belgians at Fisht Stadium and constantly chanted in support of their team.
Belgium pushed forward the start and it didn’t take from long ■ before they were threatening goalkeeper Penedo.
One of Belgium’s best opportunities was a close-range shot by Hazard that was nicely saved by Penedo near the end of the half.
With a line-up that looks like a Who’s Who of the English Premier League, Belgium showed a sense of urgency from the start though it did not result in enough chances rival in the first half. In the 20th minute, De Bruyne created the best of chances when he broke through from the right and laid off pass across the goalmouth with Lukaku lurking in position — but a smart piece of defending denied the giant striker.
The underdogs, who have been playing together for a good number of years, fought admirably in the midfield while captain Roman Torres led the side from central defence. Playing in a 4-1-4-1 formation, they were content to wait for the breaks and even earned a freekick early on in the first half.
Dedryck Boyata started in Belgium’s defence as the Celtic player profited from the absence of Thomas Vermaelen and Vincent Kompany to play in a central defensive three.
Panama’s line-up at the Fisht Stadium was as confirmed by coach Hernan Dario Gomez on the eve of the game as they made their World Cup bow. ■
Harry Kane spared England’s blushes with an injury time winner to beat Tunisia 2-1 in their Group G opener in Volgograd yesterday.
Kane put the Three Lions ahead early only to be pegged back from the spot by Ferjani Sassi after the half-hour, but he completed his brace right before the death much to the relief of Gareth Southgate.
Kane put England ahead on 11 minutes after following up on Ashley Young’s corner headed in by John Stones, which was initially clawed off the line by keeper Mouez Hassen.
The Tottenham striker pounced on the rebound and blasted in from short range to record his first ever tournament goal for his country.
It tipped off a bright start with Jesse Lingard also having his shot, fired in from Dele Alli’s cross, cleared off the line by Hassen’s foot on three minutes.
Things got even better for England as keeper Hassen came off injured for Farouk Ben Mustapha on the quarter, and Mustapha was immediately called into action to deny Jordan Henderson’s long ball.
All England’s hard work was needlessly undone on 35 minutes however, when Kyle Walker swung an arm in the box and hit Fakhreddine Ben Youssef in the face, to concede a penalty from which Ferjani Sassi converted, putting it in the bottom left beyond Jordan Pickford’s reach.
A scramble in the box then saw Stones swing at the air, Kane rugby tackled in the box without VAR intervention, and later Lingard hit the outside of the post, as the first half wound down to end level.
Kane was again manhandled in the box during a corner early in the second half, which also didn’t get reviewed.
Marcus Rashford came on for Raheem Sterling with just over 20 minutes remaining, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaced Dele Alli with 10 minutes on the clock, but nothing the weary and clueless Lions could throw at Tunisia seemed to find its way past the North African’s defence.
That was until Kane stepped up on 91 minutes, however to head it in at the back post after Kieran Trippier’s corner was flicked on by Harry Maguire in the middle, to give nervy and unconvincing England reason to relax.
Panama, the central American side, did well to hold Belgium’s supremely talented team at bay till halftime. Their fans largely outnumbered the Belgians at Fisht Stadium