Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku scored a hat-trick as they claimed a 3-0 win over Sweden which overshadowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s much-anticipated return to worldwide soccer of their opening Group F Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday.
The win on the Friends Arena gave new Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco the right begin as his aspect search to bounce again kind a disappointing group-stage exit on the Qatar World Cup however Janne Andersson’s Sweden posed little menace.
Dejan Kulusevski thought he had given the house aspect the lead within the fifteenth minute as he reduce in from the best and drove a low shot via the legs of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois however Wout Faes was available to cease the ball crossing the road.
Lukaku broke the impasse within the thirty fifth, outjumping Hjalmar Ekdal to move dwelling a cross from the left by Dodi Lukebakio, who had tormented the Sweden defence from the kickoff.
The Belgium striker then took benefit of extra slack marking to double his aspect’s benefit early within the second half as Lukebakio picked him out once more with a low cross which he turned in from shut vary.
The introduction of 41-year-old Ibrahimovic within the 73rd minute after an extended absence on account of damage prompted an ear-splitting roar from the group.
Ibra’s first contact of notice got here seven minutes later as he chested the ball down within the field however he misplaced his footing on the notoriously poor pitch at Sweden’s nationwide enviornment and the prospect was snuffed out.
Three minutes later Lukaku killed the sport off as the house defence suffered one other collective collapse, leaving him with one other tap-in to finish his treble and a straightforward win for the guests.
Sabitzer double guides Austria to 4-1 victory over Azerbaijan
Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer scored twice and profited from a dominant first-half efficiency to safe a cushty 4-1 dwelling win over Azerbaijan of their opening Euro 2024 Group F qualifier.
Sabitzer, who’s on mortgage at Manchester United from Bayern Munich for the second half of this season, collected a move from Christoph Baumgartner within the field and thrashed the ball into the again of the web for the opener simply earlier than the half-hour mark.
Austria doubled its benefit a minute later as Michael Gregoritsch scored, earlier than Sabitzer curled a beautiful free-kick into the nook of the web early within the second interval.
Azerbaijan pulled a objective again when Emin Makhmudov completed from a good angle they usually briefly threatened a comeback, however Baumgartner acquired the objective his wonderful efficiency deserved to revive the three-goal benefit for the hosts
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com