Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring his facet’s third aim throughout 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 targets to steer a 5-0 rout of 10-man Azerbaijan of their remaining European Championship qualifying sport 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 gave the impression to be a critical harm to his proper knee.
Lukaku leads scoring within the qualifiers with 14 targets, 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 targets 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 targets 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 all the way down to 10 gamers within the twenty fourth after Eddy Pascual acquired 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 group was poised to “go far” in Germany.
Lukaku began qualifying by scoring a hat trick in opposition to 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 targets 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 12 months’s match in Germany.
There was a second when Serbia gave the impression to be in hassle after Montenegro went forward 1-0 in opposition to 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 will probably be decided in a playoff linked to performances within the Nations League. Host Germany routinely qualifies.
Gavi damage
Ferran Torres scored one aim 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 aim for Spain in a 1-0 win at Norway in October had already secured spots for each Spain and Scotland at subsequent 12 months’s match 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 enjoying and appeared to harm the identical leg whereas attempting to regulate a ball. After that he instantly signaled to the group 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 group.
Slovakia beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-1 additionally in Group J, and Luxembourg beat Liechtenstein 1-0.
Portugal and Slovakia had already certified.
Source: www.thehindu.com
