Lukaku and Origi seal 3-1 win for Belgium over Iceland in Brussels

Liverpool F.C striker Divock Origi and Everton F.C forward Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to score in the second half in Brussels to secure a 3-1 win for FIFA World Cup Quarter Finalists Belgium against Iceland in a friendly A International Match in Brussels last night organised by Milenio Sports Management.

Nicolas Lombaerts had put the home side ahead in the 12th minute when he headed home Adnan Januzaj's free kick but goal was cancelled out a minute later when Alfred Finnbogason of Real Sociedad forced the ball home at the far post from a corner. Origi, on a season-long loan to French side Lille, let fly with a 25-yard drive to put Belgium 2-1 up in the 62nd minute and Lukaku sealed victory in the friendly match with a tap in.

The result ended the visitors' five-match unbeaten run. Belgium had the lion's share of possession but Iceland repeatedly showed themselves to be dangerous on the counter and could have gone into half-time ahead were it not for a couple of decent saves from Belgium's Thibaut Courtois. Belgium's 12th minute opener came directly from the training ground as Lombaerts charged forward and deftly headed Januzaj's free kick into the net.

But the hosts, missing injured captain and central defender Vincent Kompany, held on for little more than a minute before Iceland's Finnbogason found himself unmarked at the back post from a corner for an easy tap-in Substitute Origi re-established Belgium's lead in the 62nd minute, feigning right, then cutting inside to blast home with his left beyond Iceland's Ingvar Jonsson.

Shortly afterwards, Club Bruges' Thomas Meunier opened up Iceland's defence, before passing to Dries Mertens who fed Lukaku in front of an open net to settle the encounter. Iceland had won their three opening UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers, including a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands a month ago, to top group A on goal difference from the Czech Republic, who they visit on Sunday. Belgium will on the same day host Group B leaders Wales, the last side to beat Iceland, in a friendly in March.

Belgium will be heartened by the fine form of Courtois and the return of Christian Benteke, playing his first match since March while Iceland will be happy with their continuing ability to create real chances against UEFA's top nations so much so in this case that Courtois was voted Red Devil of the match having made a number of key saves in the game to ensure Belgium did not concede more.

Belgium: Thibaut Courtois, Anthony Vanden Borre (66’ Meunier), Toby Alderweireld, Nicolas Lombaerts, Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembélé (46’ Origi), Axel Witsel, Marouane Fellaini, Adnan Januzaj (63’ Mertens), Christian Benteke (76’ Praet) Eden Hazard (46’ Lukaku)

Substitutes : Simon Mignolet, Jason Denayer, Thomas Meunier, Laurens De Bock, Kevin De Bruyne, Dennis Praet, Radja Nainggolan, Nacer Chadli, Dries Mertens, Divock Origi, Romelu Lukaku, Jean-François Gillet

Iceland : Ogmundur Kristinsson (46’ Jonsson), Birkir Mar Saevarsson, Hallgrimur Jonasson, Hordur Magnusson, Ragnar Sigurdsson (84’ Eyjolfsson), Johann Gudmundsson, Alfred Finnbogason, Helgi Valur Danielsson (72’ O. Skulason), Aron Einar Gunnarsson (46’ B. Bjarnason), Rurik Gislason and Vidar Orn Kjartansson (74’ Bodvarsson)

Substitutes : Hannes Thor Halldorsson, Ingvar Jonsson, Birkir Bjarnason, Gylfi Thor Sigurdsson, Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, Kari Arnason, Olafur Ingi Skulason, Theodor Elmar Bjarnason, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Ari Freyr Skulason and Holmar Eyjolfsson

Goals : 11’ Lombaerts (1-0), 13’ Finnbogason (1-1), 62’ Origi (2-1), 73' Lukaku (3-1) Referee: Antony Goutier (FRA)