BORDEAUX, France -- Romelu Lukaku scored two second-half goals to help Belgium bounce back from its opening defeat at the European Championship, with a convincing 3-0 victory over Ireland.
Belgium's victory in the Group E match in Bordeaux on Saturday owed much to its much-vaunted attack, which finally sprang to life in the second-half following a fairly lacklustre display in the opening 2-0 loss to Italy.
Having wasted a series of chances in the first half, Belgium -- one of the favourites to win the European Championship -- started the second strongly and it wasn't long before the team went ahead.
Lukaku struck in the 48th minute after a swift counterattack that owed much to Kevin De Bruyne's burst down the right flank. Lukaku controlled De Bruyne's square pass before driving the ball low into the bottom left corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Axel Witsel doubled the score in the 61st, when he jumped above Ireland midfielder James McCarthy to crisply head in Thomas Meunier's cross for his first international goal in nearly two years.
In an attempt to claw back the arrears, Ireland took a more attacking posture, but the team was once again caught out by a pacey Belgian counterattack. Eden Hazard raced down the right from inside his own half before squaring for Lukaku, who slotted the ball past Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph in the 70th.
Witsel, who was named man of the match, said the first goal was key.
"What's important is the team's mentality," he said through a translator. "We didn't give them anything in the first half. At halftime, we spoke a lot about passion."
Witsel heaped praise on Lukaku, saying the Everton striker should have been named man of the match instead, for his two goals.
Belgium's victory over Ireland was a welcome return to form by the Red Devils following a disappointing first match against Italy.
"We chose to play on the ground, to play short passes, and that's how we managed to find the advantage tonight," Belgium coach Marc Wilmots said. "I think we came up with the right strategy. I congratulate the players for their selflessness."
The defeat against Italy had raised renewed question marks over whether Belgium's supposed "golden generation" of players could deliver on the tournament stage.
"I think individually they are as talented a team as any in the competition," Ireland coach Martin O'Neill said.
Belgium now has three points from its two games at Euro 2016, while Ireland has one. Belgium plays Sweden next and a draw would most likely seal the team's qualification to the round of 16.
Ireland meets Italy, which has now won the group. Ireland will likely need to beat Italy to stand a chance to qualify for the round of 16.
"We have a game to win and we have to throw everything into it," O'Neill said.
In the 24-team format that's being used at Euro 2016 for the first time, some third-placed group teams will qualify for the round of 16.
Daniella Matar
