Belgium 1 Greece 1: Romelu Lukaku’s last gasp strike spares Belgian blushes as nine-man Greeks summon the spirit of Euro 2004 with heroic defensive effort
Nine-man Greece summoned the spirit of Euro 2004 by holding Belgium to a 1-1 draw in Brussels during World Cup qualifying on Saturday.
Straight from kick-off in the second half, Kostas Mitroglou exploited a brief lapse in concentration from Belgium.
Kostas Mitroglou gave Greece a shock leadGetty Images
The Europe Group H favourites looked defeated until Romelu Lukaku chested down the ball and scored with two minutes remaining, to keep his team on top.
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The Belgians should have led early, when Dries Mertens found a gap at the back but Maroune Fellaini, under little pressure, missed a header at close range.
Greece soaked up the pressure, and relied on their world-class back line, anchored by Kostas Manolas and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who remained solid all evening at King Baudouin Stadium.
Just 20 seconds into the second half, Mitroglou tapped the ball past Thibaut Courtois in goal.
Romelu Lukaku spared Belgium’s blushes with a late strikeReutersThe Everton star celebrates after scoring Belgium’s last gasp equaliserGetty ImagesPanagiotis Tachtsidis was sent off after receiving a second yellow cardReutersGeorgios Tzavellas then saw red in stoppage timeGetty Images
The strike was a blow to Belgium’s confidence, but Roberto Martinez’s men got up a head of steam from the 65th minute when Panagiotis Tachtsidis was sent off for his second booking, a clumsy tackle on Toby Alderweireld.
Lukaku rescued Belgium with a stunning late goal, and nearly added a second moments later, only to be denied by Stefanos Kapino.
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Greece’s Giorgos Tzavelas was also sent off in injury time following a scuffle.
In Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina sealed their third win by hammering Gibraltar 5-0.
Bosnia celebrate on the way to a comfortable win over GibraltarGetty ImagesCyprus and Estonia played out a 0-0 drawEPA
Gibraltar’s defense was no match for the pacey Bosnians, and Vedad Ibisevic scored twice before the break. Ibisevic also set up the fifth and last goal.
Bosnia are trying to make their second World Cup finals.
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