Nations League: Belgium beat Lewandowski’s Poland 6-1 after Trossard double
Two goals from substitute Leandro Trossard helped Belgium beat Poland 6-1 in a Nations League A game at the King Baudouin Stadium on Wednesday to overtake the Netherlands. Belgium, coming home to a 4-1 loss by their Dutch neighbors on Friday, when Robert Lewandowski netted just before the half-hour mark, but leveled through Axel Witsel before the break.
They dominated the second period and finished second in Group Four after two rounds after goals from Kevin de Bruyne, Trossard (two), Leander Dendonker and debutant Lois Openda, above Poland in third. Belgium visits Wales on Saturday while Poland visits Netherlands. Poland, which suffered its biggest defeat in a competitive fixture since 1965, will host Belgium in its return on Tuesday.
“It was fantastic today,” Trossard told VTM. “We had to react after the last game. We played well and created many chances. And, of course, it’s nice when you can score so many goals.”
He admitted that he was at a loss as to why Belgium would make two such contrasting appearances in a matter of days. “It’s hard to explain, if we had known the answer, we would have done something about it. But today we responded well, that was the most important thing.”
Stronger than Belgium!
[?] vitselo
[?] de brune
[?] Trossard x2
[?] dandonkar
[?] Openda #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/IxiAtsbQYl
— UEFA Nations League (@EURO2024) June 8, 2022
The home team has never looked disheartened after scoring in every game since the 1-0 loss to France in the 2018 World Cup, scoring in 46 matches in a row. He also had Eden Hazard running the show as he impressed in his 66 minutes on the pitch, showing a smattering of quality at Real Madrid after a bad season from injury and poor form.
Poland took the lead against the race of the game as Lewandowski completed a generally drawn out finish for his 76th international goal. But Belgium were on Vitsel’s level three minutes before halftime, and then tied Poland’s goal with shots.
He took the lead when Hazard slid the ball into the box one acre into the hands of De Bruyne, a goal that was to open the floodgates as Trossard caught a quickfire brace, his second a brilliant curling effort into the top corner. Dendonkar then dropped a 30-yard shot into the home without any pressure, and Openda marked his first cap with a clean finish.