World Cup qualifying roundup: Poland on verge as Lewandowski sets record
Photo by: SKYSPORT PHOTOS
Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick in Poland's 6-1 win over Armenia on his method to becoming his country's leading scorer. Within the room of seven first-half minutes in Yerevan, the Bayern Munich forward equalled and then surpassed Wlodzimierz Lubanski's tally of 48 before reaching a half-century for Poland when he completed his treble midway through the 2nd half. His 64th-minute strike was his 15th in Group E, accurate documentation for an individual European qualifying campaign, although Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo isb close with 14.
Kamil Grosicki, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Rafal Wolski scored others to place Poland on the verge of World Cup qualification, with Hovhannes Hambardzumyan briefly which makes it 3-1 right before the break.
Denmark kept alive their hopes of clinching automatic qualification and boosted their play-off chances after an excellent goal by midfielder Christian Eriksen gave them a 1-0 win in Montenegro on Thursday. The effect left the Danes second on 19 points from nine games, three behind Poland and three in front of third-placed Montenegro, who are in possession of just a slim potential for finishing while the group's runners-up. Denmark have reached home to eliminated Romania, who beat Kazakhstan 3-1, within their final game on Sunday.
Poland have reached home to Montenegro knowing that they may proceed through automatically with a draw. In Group C, Norway earned just their third qualifying victory in emphatic style, beating San Marino 8-0 in Serravalle. Bournemouth's Josh King scored twice and Basel forward Mohamed Elyounoussi went one better with a hat-trick.
In Thursday's other matches, Antonin Barak's late goal helped Czech Republicdefeat Azerbaijan 2-1 in Baku, while Malta found their first point in Group F after having a 1-1 draw with Lithuania.
