Belgium 2 - 1 Switzerland: Lukaku at the double for Red Devils

Belgium moved top of their Nations League group with a battling 2-1 victory over Switzerland in Brussels.

Posted Saturday, October 13, 2018 by Goal.com

Romelu Lukaku ended a six-game competitive dry spell with both Belgium goals in a late 2-1 home win over a stubborn Switzerland in the Nations League on Friday.

On target twice in a 3-0 defeat of Iceland last month, Manchester United striker Lukaku repeated the heroics as he scored either side of Mario Gavranovic's surprise 76th-minute equaliser.

The 25-year-old looked to have played the part of villain when he blazed over a golden opportunity to restore the hosts' lead late in proceedings, but he regained composure to tuck away a chance instigated by Eden Hazard six minutes from time and send the Red Devils top of Group A2.

The result may provide Thierry Henry with a winning farewell in what could be his final match as Roberto Martinez's assistant - the France great closing in on the vacant Monaco post.

After a week marked by investigations into alleged corruption and match-fixing within Belgian football, the hosts almost went ahead through Youri Tielemans' rasping drive in the 20th minute, but it was one of few moments of quality in a subdued first half.

The opener eventually came when Hazard, Dries Mertens and Thomas Meunier were all involved in creating space for Lukaku to squirm the opener under Yann Sommer in the 58th minute.

Against the run of play, Switzerland appeared to have done enough for a point when Michael Lang aided Gavranovic in punishing some sloppy marking from Xherdan Shaqiri's free-kick.

But, after fluffing one fine chance for the winner, Lukaku did not waste a second, squeezing home after a brilliant move involving Hazard and Mertens in the 84th minute to send Martinez's men three points clear atop their Nations League group.