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WC2018: Everton striker Lukaku back in form with Belgium brace

Romelu Lukaku swiftly returned to goalscoring form by netting a double for Belgium in Cyprus on Tuesday night.

The Everton striker, who has recently been criticised for a poor Euro2016 and a low start at club level, fired home a match-winning brace as Roberto Martinez grabbed his first win as Red Devils boss.

The 2018 World Cup qualifier in Nicosia saw Belgium take the lead in the 13th minute when Lukaku was on hand to head home Thomas Mounter's initial effort which had been wonderfull saved into the crossbar by Constantinos Panayi after taking a deflection off a defender.

The second goal came on 61 minutes after a lovely build up from the Belgians which involved Chelsea's Eden Hazard, Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne and Atletico Madrid's Yannick Carrasco, with Lukaku again finishing with a close range header from a Panayi save.

Panayi was again unlucky for the third goal in the 81st minute when he saved a fierce De Bruyne attempt from outside the area which feel kindly for Hazard to cut back into the path of Carrasco who swept home to seal the contest.

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Andrew Slevison
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Andrew Slevison

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