Sunday, October 8, 2017

On Thursday, Polish striker Robert Lewandowski surpassed W?odzimierz Luba?ski’s goal scoring record for the country in a qualifying match against Armenia for next year’s FIFA World Cup. Lewandowski equalled Lubanski’s record of 48 goals in the eighteenth minute of the game, and became new top-scorer after scoring another in the 25th minute. Lubanski had scored 48 goals for Poland in 75 matches.

Poland’s Kamil Grosicki opened the scoring just two minutes after the kick-off. Lewandowski scored his 48th goal via a free-kick in the eighteenth minute and 49th goal in the 25th minute. Hovhannes Hambardzumyan scored a header, the only goal for Armenia, in the 39th minute. The first half ended in a 3–1 lead for Poland in Yerevan. In the second half, Jakub B?aszczykowski scored the fourth goal for Poland. Lewandowski, who was playing his 90th international match, completed his hat-trick when he scored his 50th international goal in the 64th minute. Just minutes before final time, Rafa? Wolski scored the sixth goal for Poland.

Lewandowski has now scored fifteen goals in the qualification matches, setting up a new record of most goals scored in European Qualifiers. The previous record was set by Yogislavian Predrag Mijatovi?, who scored fourteen goals. Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo equalled Mijatovi?’s record in August, scored a goal yesterday and became the joint top-scorer with Lewandowski in European Qualifiers.

With the 6–1 victory over Armenia, Poland has won 22 points in nine qualification matches, and sits on the top of the Group E table. They need just one point to earn direct qualification for the World Cup. Their next game is against Montenegro in Warsaw, scheduled for today.

On the same day, defending world champions Germany defeated Northern Ireland 3–1 in Belfast and qualified for the World Cup with nine victories in nine qualification matches. England defeated Slovenia 1–0 and qualified for the World Cup too. On Friday, Spain defeated Albania 3–0 and joined Germany and England to qualify.