Belgium versus Romania LIVE: Belgium take early lead in Cologne

Belgium finally asserted their credentials at Euro 2024 with a 2-0 victory over Romania in an open match in Cologne.

Kevin De Bruyne sealed the match for the Red Devils with a poached goal ten minutes from time, in a match in which Belgium missed a host of chances.

For the third time in the tournament Romelu Lukaku had a goal disallowed, and he and his teammates saw several other chances saved by Florin Nita. De Bruyne and substitute Leandro Trossard were also wasteful in playing decisive passes to open players. Dennis Man had Romania’s best chance in the second half, which was smothered by Koen Casteels.

It was Youri Tielemans that gave Belgium the lead after just 75 seconds, when he walked onto a lay-off by Lukaku to crash a low drive past Florin Nita. The goal was the third quickest in the history of the European Championship.

The result means that all four teams in Group E now have three points, with the remaining fixtures to be played on Wednesday.

Belgium have won a thoroughly entertaining match here in Cologne.

Belgium have blown so many big opportunities tonight. Lukaku has an age to play De Bruyne clean through on the break, but delays it so long that a furious De Bruyne can't stay onside.

Sorescu replaces Ratiu for Romania.

We'll have a minimum of four added minutes.

Lukaku stands up Burca, and goes past him; he shoots low across goal, and Nita saves with his feet.

Trossard is in twice on the right in quick succession, with a man free at the back stick for a tap in; twice he overruns it, and blows the chance to make it three. Get your head up, as they say.

It's Mach 10 stuff in Cologne, absolutely breathless. Somewhere in it all, Romania have introduced Alibec, who immediately has a chance cleared off the line by Castagne.

Carrasco leads a break for Belgium, and plays Trossard in on the right of the area. Trossard should shoot but tries to square it to Lukaku, and Romania clear.

Game done, surely. Lukaku flicks on a long clearance from Casteels, and it runs through to De Bruyne in the area. De Bruyne toe pokes it past Casteels as the two fly towards each other, and after a VAR check for offside it stands!

Hagi ghosts past one, plays a quick one-two and then just as he's shaping to shoot from the edge, he loses his footing. Bah!

Theate departs for Belgium, replaced by Debast.

He's had some nice touches so far, and looks a purposeful player. That's some DNA he's got in him.

After a spell of Romanian possession, Razvan Marin gets impatient and lashes a shot hopelessly off target from 30 yards out.

Carrasco and Mangala replace Tielemans and Doku.

After riding their luck, Romania clearly fancy this now. Buckle up!

Man is clean through for Romania! He squares up Casteels, one on one...and he's put it straight into the goalkeeper's belly! That's a huge miss.

Hagi and Olaru replace Marius Marin and Mihaila.

Fireworks are going off in the stands, as Lukaku spins, shoots and forces a good save from Nita. Elsewhere, Marius Marin has been booked. This game is an absolute riot of activity!

Oh my days. Belgium win the ball in the centre circle, and De Bruyne splits the defence with a gorgeous pass to put Lukaku clean through. Lukaku tucks the ball past Nita and into the bottom corner, but hang on...it's chalked for offside! That looked so tight, and it's now a hat trick of disallowed goals for Lukaku at Euro 2024.

Doku leads it down the left, and backs up Dragusin to the edge of the area. He checks back twice and eventually shoots, but it's into the side-netting and Nita had it covered.