Brilliant Belgium back on track with 2-0 win over Romania

A goal by Youri Tielemans after 73 seconds and a late one for Kevin De Bruyne gave Belgium a 2-0 win over Romania in an incredible game full of chances on Saturday that set up a final round showdown with all four teams in Group E on three points.

It was a Saturday night special played in an astonishing atmosphere in Cologne, with the only mystery being how there were only two goals.

All outcomes are now available on the final night of matches when Belgium play Ukraine and Slovakia play Romania, when four points could be enough to top the group but could also see a team eliminated.

Belgium, still somehow ranked third in the world by FIFA, were unrecognisable from the sluggish side shocked by Slovakia in their opening game, pouring forward and full of energy from the first whistle.

It paid dividends immediately as Romelu Lukaku held up the ball with his back to goal before rolling it into the path of Tielemans, who drilled home a crisp, low shot.

Four minutes later Romania went close with a header by Radu Dragusin that Koen Casteels saved well, but it was a brief respite as Belgium ran the first-half show.

Dodi Lukebakio’s fierce shot was well saved by Florin Nita after a trademark carving run by De Bruyne, while Lukebakio and Amadou Onana both blazed over when free in front of goal.

It seemed only a matter of time before they scored again, but Romania weathered the storm and, knowing how they struck so devastatingly on the counter to beat Ukraine, did not panic.

Their fans certainly stayed behind them, helping create an amazing atmosphere as noise rained down from all four stands.

The waves of Belgian attacks continued though, as Jeremy Doku fizzed a cross inches from Lukaku’s head, De Bruyne curled one just past a post