Romelo Lukaku Scores Four Goals In 20 Minutes, Belgium Wins 5-0 Over Azerbaijan

Belgian striker Romelo Lukaku made a new precipitation. (photo: x @royalbelgianfa)

JAKARTA - On Sunday 19 November in Brussels, striker Romelo Lukaku made a new precipitation. He scored four goals in the first 20 minutes when Belgium crushed Azerbaijan 5-0 in qualifying for Group F Euro 2024.

Lukaku impressed with a clinical finish. He scored his total goal in the group to 14 in eight games. Meanwhile Belgium itself has already qualified and confirmed the top position in the group. Azerbaijan completed their fourth-placed journey with seven points from eight matches.

The home team took a 4-0 lead in the first 37 minutes, taking advantage of an initial red card for Eddy Israfilov from Azerbaijan who was sent off after making a hard tackle on Lukaku.

The Beglgia captain has scored a total of 83 goals in 113 international appearances before he was replaced in the first half. Then Leandro Trossard completed the victory with Belgium's fifth goal.

This victory extended Belgium's unbeaten record, Domenico Tedesco, at the start of his tenure to 10 matches, with eight of them winning.

After the unsatisfactory 2022 World Cup results in Qatar, their confidence has now returned despite several regular players missing, including Kevin De Bruyne being sidelined due to injury.

Azerbaijan was unable to overcome Belgium's bait game and movement, as well as Lukaku's strength at the forefront, which intimidates opponents' defenses like when scoring four goals with a clinical finish.

The match itself had an oddity when the Swedish national anthem was played instead of Azerbaijan. This was greeted with a confused view from the visitors and the shame of the host officials.

Lukau's first goal came in the 17th minute when Jeremy Doku was left unguarded on the edge of the box and his cross was easily headed by Lukaku.

The night got worse for Azerbaijan seven minutes later when they had to play 10 players after Israfilov got a second yellow card. Both yellow cards were only received within four minutes.

Lukaku scored again not long after, with a good finish to the bottom corner after being offered a Timothy Castagne head pass.

He finished his hat-trick 13 minutes after scoring his first goal with a header using a Wout Faes cross, before adding a fourth goal after being supplied by Orel Mangala in the penalty box.

Lukaku's total of 14 goals was the most ever scored in qualifying for a single Euro campaign.

It was not surprising that the intensity of the match was reduced in the second half, but Trossard scored fifth in the final minutes from close range to perfect the life performance of the Arsenal forward.