Belgium vs Slovakia LIVE: Euro 2024 result and reaction after VAR rule out two Romelu Lukaku equalisers
Belgium 0-1 Slovakia: Lukaku thought he had rescued a point with a 86th minute equaliser but VAR ruled the goal out due to handball as Slovakia held on to claim the shock of the tournament so far
Slovakia delivered the first major shock result of Euro 2024, snatching an early goal and defending furiously to hold on for a 1-0 victory over Belgium in Group E.
Ivan Schranz took advantage of a horror defensive error to put Slovakia ahead in the seventh minute and kept Belgium at bay with increasing desperation to secure an unexpected triumph at the Frankfurt Arena.
Belgium’s top scorer Romelu Lukaku twice had the ball in the net but was denied after VAR checks, first for offside in the 56th minute and minutes from the end when Lois Openda was adjudged to have handled in the build-up before the striker swept the ball into the net.
Slovakia joined Romania at the top of the group standings after their 3-0 win over Ukraine on Monday. Follow all the latest reaction below before the evening match between Austria and France:
Romania 3-0 Ukraine
81 mins: Razvan Marin goes into the book for a silly foul. Ukraine have a free-kick but it’s some way out. Mykhailo Mudryk curls it in to no avail.
Romania 3-0 Ukraine
78 mins: Save! Florin Nita wants his clean sheet. Georgiy Sudakov has plenty of defenders ahead of him but decide to go from goal from outside the box.
His effort is cleanly struck with a touch of swerve on the ball. Nita leaps to his right and manages to get to the ball, he drops it but keeps it from crossing the line and eventually smothers the danger.
Romania 3-0 Ukraine
75 mins: 15 minutes to go and Romania look very comfortable. Denis Dragus is replaced with George Puscas and receives a warm round of cheers from the Romania fans as he makes his exit from the pitch.
Romania 3-0 Ukraine
72 mins: Radu Dragusin steps up for Romania once again and tracks deep into his own box to block a cross behind for a corner. The Tottenham defender has been a stalwart in defence for Romania today and has marshalled his team brilliantly.
Romania 3-0 Ukraine
69 mins: Yukhym Konoplia drags down a Romanian player and collects the first yellow card of the game. The set piece gets whipped into the near post and lands in the side netting.
Andriy Lunin seems to have had it covered at the near post.
Romania 3-0 Ukraine
66 mins: The only saving grace for Ukraine is that this group is one of the better ones to be in. Only Belgium offer a constant threat with Slovakia the other team involved.
Should the Ukranians be unable to turn this match around, a win against one of those other two teams may be enough to send them through.
Romania will be on cloud nine. They’ll certainly have their sights on the knockout rounds now.
Romania 3-0 Ukraine
63 mins: Ukraine have the chance to spoil the party with a free kick. Mudryk flicks the ball into the penalty area and watches as it gets nodded down to Yarmolenko who’s just been brought on.
He shoots but lifts the shot over the crossbar.
Romania 3-0 Ukraine
60 mins: An hour played in Munich and the game is done. It’s been a shocking performance from Ukraine since the opening goal went in with Romania constantly growing in confidence and skill.
Denis Dragus has been incredible at the top of the pitch and he’s been rewarded with a goal.
GOAL! Romania 3-0 Ukraine (Dragus, 57’)⚽️
57 mins: Another one!
Romania are in total control now. From a short Dennis Man dances into the box with the ball before slipping a pass through to Denis Dragus.
He pokes the ball into the open net and the celebrations begin again.
GOAL! Romania 2-0 Ukraine (R. Marin, 53’)⚽️
53 mins: Bang!
Romania wrestle back the ball in the middle of the pitch with Denis Dragus bringing it forward before passing out wide to Dennis Man.
Man darts along the front edge of the penalty area before nudging the ball back to Rasvan Marin. He wastes no time in taking a shto from range and smokes it underneath the goalkeeper to pick out the bottom corner!
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