Slovakia upsets Belgium at Euro 2024 after Lukaku's goals disallowed
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Two Romelu Lukaku goals were ruled out by video review and Belgium fell to a stunning 1-0 loss to Slovakia in wild Group E action at the European Championship on Monday.
Slovakia struck with a seventh-minute goal by forward Ivan Schranz then survived a string of misses by Belgium record scorer Lukaku, who had two second-half goals overturned, and all that playmaker Kevin De Bruyne could help create.
Slovakia's win also was preserved by defender David Hancko's brave goal-line block that left him sprawled in the goal net with a face injury inflicted by a teammate's knee.
That came in the 62nd minute, from substitute Johan Bakayoko's close-range shot, just seven minutes after Lukaku's first goal was overturned when a video review spotted an offside.
The second VAR intervention in the 86th disallowed Lukaku's powerful shot because of a handball by Lois Openda before his decisive pass.
Lukaku set a competition record of 14 goals in a qualifying group last year, yet somehow failed to score in a wasteful first half. including twice before Slovakia led.
The drama in Frankfurt came hours after Romania upended predictions by outclassing Ukraine 3-0 in Munich.
Belgium fell to a first loss in 15 games under coach Domenico Tedesco and faces Romania in the Saturday evening game in Cologne.
Slovakia faces Ukraine in Dusseldorf on Friday.