Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku scored a hat-trick as they claimed a 3-0 win over Sweden which overshadowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s much-anticipated go back to world soccer of their opening Group F Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday.
The win on the Friends Arena gave new Belgium trainer Domenico Tedesco the easiest get started as his facet sought to dance again shape a disappointing group-stage go out on the Qatar World Cup however Janne Andersson’s Sweden posed little danger.
Dejan Kulusevski idea he had given the house facet the lead within the fifteenth minute as he minimize in from the best and drove a low shot during the legs of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois however Wout Faes was once available to forestall the ball crossing the road.
Lukaku broke the impasse within the thirty fifth, outjumping Hjalmar Ekdal to move house a move from the left through Dodi Lukebakio, who had tormented the Sweden protection from the kickoff.
The Belgium striker then took good thing about extra slack marking to double his facet’s merit early in the second one part as Lukebakio picked him out once more with a low move which he grew to become in from shut vary.
The creation of 41-year-old Ibrahimovic within the 73rd minute after an extended absence because of damage caused an ear-splitting roar from the gang because the striker become the second one oldest participant to characteristic in a European Championship qualifier.
Ibra’s first contact of notice got here seven mins later as he chested the ball down within the field however he misplaced his footing at the notoriously deficient pitch at Sweden’s nationwide area and the danger was once snuffed out.
Three mins later Lukaku killed the sport off as the house protection suffered every other collective cave in, leaving him with every other tap-in to finish his treble and a simple win for the guests.
This tale has been corrected to mention Ibrahimovic is the second one oldest participant to characteristic, now not the oldest, in paragraph 6.
This tale has been printed from a cord company feed with out adjustments to the textual content.