Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring his facet’s third objective through the Euro 2024 group F qualifying match between Belgium and Azerbaijan on the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, on November 19, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku scored 4 first-half objectives to steer a 5-0 rout of 10-man Azerbaijan of their remaining European Championship qualifying recreation on Sunday, and Serbia locked up its spot at Euro 2024 after drawing 2-2 with Bulgaria.
Spain’s 3-1 win over Georgia was overshadowed by Barcelona midfielder Gavi struggling what seemed to be a critical harm to his proper knee.
Lukaku leads scoring within the qualifiers with 14 objectives, 4 greater than Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and 5 forward of France’s Kylian Mbappe.
Lukaku’s haul is a report for a European Championship qualifying marketing campaign, beating the earlier mark of 13 objectives held by Poland’s Robert Lewandowski (in Euro 2016 qualifying) and Northern Ireland’s David Healy (in Euro 2008 qualifying).
The Roma striker took all 4 of his objectives between the seventeenth and thirty seventh minutes in an superior show of scientific ending.
“It was an outstanding performance by Romelu,” Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco mentioned. “He scored with every shot. You can’t do better.”
Following Lukaku’s opener to make it 1-0, Azerbajian went right down to 10 gamers within the twenty fourth after Eddy Pascual bought his second yellow card.
Belgium had already certified together with Austria from Group F earlier than the sport in Brussels, however the victory meant it completed in first place with 20 factors from eight video games, one level greater than Austria. Sweden beat Estonia 2-0 and ended up third within the group.
Lukaku, who was additionally celebrating his son’s birthday, mentioned that his crew was poised to “go far” in Germany.
Lukaku began qualifying by scoring a hat trick towards Sweden in March. The 30-year-old striker solely failed to attain in one of many eight qualifying video games. Azerbaijan pissed off him in September in a 1-0 win for Belgium.
He has additionally scored 9 objectives in 14 video games for Roma since he was loaned to the Italian membership from Chelsea within the offseason.
Serbia advances
Serbia wanted a draw or for Montenegro to not beat Hungary to advance to subsequent yr’s event in Germany.
There was a second when Serbia seemed to be in bother after Montenegro went forward 1-0 towards Hungary whereas Bulgaria led Serbia 2-1.
But Serbia defender Srdan Babic’s equalizer within the 82nd ensured that it wanted no assist.
The already-qualified Hungary rallied to beat Montenegro 3-1, led by midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai’s brace.
Hungary completed Group G with 18 factors from eight video games. Serbia was second with 14, and Montenegro third with 11.
Hungary secured its place on Thursday when it received at Bulgaria. The match was marred by violence when native followers clashed with police on the streets of Sofia throughout a protest over the administration of the nationwide soccer union.
Only the highest two finishers from every of the ten teams advance. Another three spots shall be decided in a playoff linked to performances within the Nations League. Host Germany routinely qualifies.
Gavi harm
Ferran Torres scored one objective after establishing Robin Le Normand’s opener in Spain’s win to complete atop Group A.
Gavi was in tears when he limped off the sector within the twenty fourth minute in Valladolid.
Gavi’s objective for Spain in a 1-0 win at Norway in October had already secured spots for each Spain and Scotland at subsequent yr’s event in Germany.
The 19-year-old Barcelona participant took a tough hit to the facet of his proper knee when he and a Georgia participant collided a couple of minutes earlier than he needed to come off. He saved taking part in and appeared to harm the identical leg whereas making an attempt to manage a ball. After that he instantly signaled to the crew that he couldn’t proceed.
Scotland was second with 17 factors after it drew 3-3 with Norway in a Glasgow thriller.
Perfect 10
Bruno Fernándes and Ricardo Horta scored in Portugal’s 2-0 win over Iceland in Lisbon to make it a clear sweep of 10 wins in as many qualifiers for Roberto Martínez’s crew.
Slovakia beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-1 additionally in Group J, and Luxembourg beat Liechtenstein 1-0.
Portugal and Slovakia had already certified.
Source web site: www.thehindu.com
