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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

Chris Wilson
Monday 17 June 2024 14:40 EDT
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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:

Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

96 mins

Dubravka collects Tielemans’ ball forward, and Slovakia are within a minute of what is probably the best result in their history (all things considered).

Chris Wilson17 June 2024 18:55

Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

94 mins

Slovakia make a substitution, as Obert replaces Duda.

Chris Wilson17 June 2024 18:54

Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

93 mins

Chance for De Bruyne as he collects Openda’s cutback and beats the defender out wide, but his shot is tame and Dubravka saves easily.

Chris Wilson17 June 2024 18:53

Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

92 mins

Lukaku collects with his back to goal before turning and playing the through ball to Openda, but Dubravka races off his line to collect.

Chris Wilson17 June 2024 18:52

Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

90 mins

There’ll be seven minutes of added time.It begins with Bakayoko skewing a shot well wide.

Chris Wilson17 June 2024 18:51

DISALLOWED GOAL! Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

89 mins

DISALLOWED GOAL!

It’s overturned again! Unbelievably bad luck for Belgium. It was accidental, but undeniably helped Openda control it.

Chris Wilson17 June 2024 18:49

Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

88 mins

On replay, this will surely be chalked off. Openda has – perhaps accidentally – used his hand to bring it down originally...

Chris Wilson17 June 2024 18:48

GOAL! Belgium 1-1 Slovakia

87 mins

GOAL! Instant impact from Openda!

It’s simple from the Leipzig man, who collects the ball down the left, gets it under control and beats his man for pace. He races into the box and cuts it back to Lukaku, who’s waiting near the centre of the box, and he fires it past Dubravka, who was scrambling across.

There’s another VAR check, for handball...

Chris Wilson17 June 2024 18:47

Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

85 mins

Lukebakio’s first action is a late challenge on Hancko in the Serbia box, which he gets booked for.

Chris Wilson17 June 2024 18:44

Euro 2024: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

83 mins

Hancko does well to intercept before slipping it in to Duda, who wins a corner.

Suslov’s corner is headed away by Faes, before Bakayoko carries it out and wins the foul.

Belgium make two changes, as Doku and Carrasco come off for Lukebakio and Openda. Just before, Duris had replaced goalscorer Ivan Schranz.

Chris Wilson17 June 2024 18:43

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