Football: Belgium thrash San Marino 9-0 to qualify for Euro 2020
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Cristian Brolli of San Marino (left) and Nacer Chadli of Belgium in action during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group I qualifying soccer match between Belgium and San Marino at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, Belgium, on Oct 10, 2019.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
LONDON (REUTERS) - Romelu Lukaku scored his 50th international goal as Belgium thrashed San Marino 9-0 on Thursday (Oct 10) and became the first side through to the Euro 2020 finals, with Russia on the verge of joining them after seeing off Scotland 4-0 in Moscow.
Unbeaten Belgium have 21 points from seven games, with only one goal conceded, with Russia on 18 and Cyprus, 2-1 winners over Kazakhstan in Astana, on 10. The top two in each group qualify directly.
San Marino managed to keep a clean sheet for 27 minutes against the top-ranked 2018 World Cup semi-finalists before, as expected, the Group I floodgates opened at Brussels's King Baudouin stadium.
Inter Milan striker Lukaku became the first Belgian to reach a half century of international goals with a right-footed shot to open the scoring.