Rashford scores in England win v Belgium; Haaland hat trick
Daniella Matar | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 3 months AGO
MILAN (AP) — England came from behind to beat Belgium 2-1 and move top of its UEFA Nations League group on Sunday, and Erling Haaland netted a hat trick to help Norway assuage its European Championship playoff disappointment.
Marcus Rashford’s penalty canceled out Romelu Lukaku’s spot kick in the first half before Mason Mount’s looping, deflected shot clinched England’s first victory over a top-ranked team in nine years.
The result also ended Belgium’s 13-match unbeaten run.
England is a point ahead of Belgium in Group 2 of League A. Also in that group, Denmark was hosting Iceland later Sunday. Denmark has one point and the visitors zero.
HAALAND HAT TRICK
Haaland helped Norway thrash Romania 4-0 and move top in Group 1 of League B.
Alexander Sørloth scored Norway’s other goal. Haaland already has six goals in the competition.
Norway lost a Euro 2020 playoff to Serbia on Thursday.
Austria can move level on points with Norway with a win over Northern Ireland later.
PERFECT FIGHT
Substitute Andrej Kramarić scored the winner nine minutes after coming off the bench to help Croatia beat Sweden 2-1.
Croatia moved three points below France and Portugal in Group 3 of League A. Defending champion Portugal and France play each other later, knowing that one or both of them will lose their perfect record in this season’s competition.
Italy and Poland have the chance to top Group 1 of League A after the Netherlands drew 0-0 against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
OTHER MATCHES
Finland beat Bulgaria 2-0 in Group 4 of League B and 10-man Ireland drew 0-0 against Wales.
There were four draws in League C: Armenia 2, Georgia 2; Estonia 3, North Macedonia 3; Kazakhstan 0, Albania 0; and Lithuania 2, Belarus 2.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
ARTICLES BY DANIELLA MATAR
Italian sport to take place without fans until April 3
MILAN (AP) — All sporting events in Italy will take place without fans present for at least the next month due to the virus outbreak in the country, the Italian government announced on Wednesday.
Skiing finals, Italian cycling races canceled due to virus
MILAN (AP) — The alpine skiing World Cup Finals and major Italian cycling races were among the latest sporting events to be canceled on Friday because of the escalating virus outbreak.
Spal upsets Sassuolo to set up quarterfinal against Juventus
MILAN (AP) — Second-division team Spal will face Serie A champion Juventus in the Italian Cup quarterfinals after winning 2-0 at 10-man Sassuolo on Thursday.