Romelu Lukaku scored his 50th and 51st goal for Belgium as the Red Devils defeated San Marino and became the first team to qualify for Euro 2020 with three games to spare.
Belgium put up a commanding performance to win 9-0 thereby equalling their biggest ever win margin as a team and agaisnt the same opponent over 15 years ago. The victory over San Marino made it seven straight victories in as many games in the Euro 2020 qualifiers. Crucial to this victory on the night was Lukaku who put up a man of the match performance on the night.
The Inter Milan striker scored a brace and was involved in two other goals as the Belgian Red Devils ran riot in front of their home fans in Brussels. Initially it looked like it was going to be a keenly contested encounter as San Marino defended stoutly but it took the former Manchester United man 28 minutes to break the deadlock and score his 50th international goal for Belgium – the highest by any player.
Within 17 minutes, the Russia 2019 Bronze medalists put six goals past the San Marino goalkeeper. This included a first half brace from Lukaku, an own goal from a Lukaku flick, another goal from Nacer Chadli assisted by the Inter Milan striker before Toby Alderweireld’s long strike was deflected beyond the goalkeeper and Youri Tielemans put the icing on the cake with a well taken strike on the stroke of half time.
In the second period, Lukaku tried to get his hat-trick but it was not to be as he was replaced by Christian Benteke who scored the seventh goal on the night. Debutant Yari Verschaeren and Castagne completed the rout as the Belgians clinched their Euro 2020 ticket in style.
