Robert Lewandowski of Poland reacts after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 Group D qualifying football match Poland vs Georgia in Warsaw on June 13, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
Andre Schurrle also bagged a hat-trick in Germany’s 7-0 thrashing of Gibraltar but former European champions Greece’s embarrassing campaign continued as they were beaten 2-1 in the Faroe Islands.
Poland remain top of Group D ahead of World Cup holders Germany after Lewandowski’s late hat-trick sealed a 4-0 win against Georgia in Warsaw.
Arkadiusz Milik put the Poles in front before captain Lewandowski doubled their lead in the 89th minute.
The Bayern Munich striker added another in the 92nd minute and completed a remarkable treble in the third minute of stoppage time to secure a handsome win.
“It was definitely the first time I’ve scored so many in such a short time,” said Lewandowski.
It is the second-fastest hat-trick in the history of European Championship qualifying, bettered only by Arif Erdem, who scored three in three minutes for Turkey against Northern Ireland in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2000.
Poland are a point clear of Germany, who won 7-0 against minnows Gibraltar in Faro, southern Portugal, despite Bastian Schweinsteiger having an early penalty saved.
Schurrle set them on their way and six more goals followed in the second half, including two more from the Wolfsburg forward, a brace from Max Kruse and one each for Ilkay Gundogan and Karim Bellarabi.
Ronaldo once again vital for 10-men Portugal
Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo scored his third hat-trick in his last three games for club and country as Portugal held on with 10 men for the final half-hour in Yerevan to claim a crucial win in Group I.
Brazilian-born Marcos Pizzelli gave Armenia the lead but Ronaldo equalised from the spot before adding two more in the space of four second-half minutes.
Fernando Santos’ side then had Atletico Madrid midfielder Tiago Mendes sent off and were made to dig deep after Hrayr Mkoyan pulled a goal back for the hosts but managed to hang on.
Portugal have now won four games in a row since starting their campaign with a 1-0 home defeat to Albania and top Group I by two points ahead of second-placed Denmark, who beat Serbia 2-0 in Copenhagen thanks to a goal in each half from Yussuf Poulsen and Jakob Poulsen.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2015.
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