SAN FRANCISCO, November 19, (THEWILL) –Â Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku’s brace were decisive as Belgium beat Denmark 4-2 to reach the UEFA Nations League Finals.
To stop Denmark finishing top of group A2, Roberto Martinez’s side only needed to avoid defeat. And they looked every bit ready to do that from kickoff at the King Power at Den Dreef Stadion, Heverlee in Leuven.
In only the third minute, Leicester’s Youri Tielemans, who fired Belgium ahead against England, did so again on Wednesday from a similar distance. The midfielder’s left-foot shot from the edge of the area bobbled beyond Schmeichel and into the bottom-right corner.
The lead lasted only 14 minutes. Denmark equalised when Jonas Wind headed a loose ball beyond Thibaut Courtois after Barcelona winger Martin Braithwaite’s shot had been blocked.
In the 23rd minute, Braithwaite had a better chance to put the Danes in front but a sprawling Courtois kept the scores level. Soon after at the other end, Lukaku almost glanced a header from De Bruyne’s cross.
It was to Lukaku that the next chance came. And the Inter man, who had cut an isolated figure in Belgium’s frontline, took the chance decisively. A quick free-kick in the 56th minute allowed De Bruyne to feed the striker. Lukaku’s shot struck the onrushing Danish keeper Kasper Schmeichel, looped up and went over the line. The defender providing cover Andreas Christensen could only hook the ball high into the net.
In the 69th minute, Lukaku was on song again. He planted a firm header past Schmeichel from six yards at the end of a fine Thorgan Hazard cross to make it 3-1.
Then, in a bizarre moment, Courtois allowed Nacer Chadli’s 86th minute backpass to roll beneath his foot and into the net, leaving Martinez looking thunderstruck on the touchline.
However, Manchester City playmaker De Bruyne soon calmed Belgian nerves as he found the net after Thomas Foket’s cross bobbled across the Denmark box.
With this result, Belgium finish top of Group A2 with 15 points, five above Denmark and England, and it secures their place at the Finals next year.
Denmark may feel frustrated to have failed to capitalise on a sluggish display by Martinez’s men, particularly in the first half.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
