Robert Lewandowski made Nations League history as Poland thrashed 10 man Romania 6-0 in Warsaw on Saturday.
The Poland captain scored a hat trick to become the oldest player to score three goals in a Nations League match. Lewandowski achieved the feat at the age of 38 years and 42 days. He broke the previous record held by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo was 34 years and 120 days old when he scored three goals for Portugal against Switzerland in the 2019 Nations League semifinal. Poland entered the match without a win in their first two Group B4 games. Romania started brightly and created the better chances early on.
Razvan Marin forced Marcin Bulka into a save before the Poland goalkeeper also stopped Daniel Birligea. The game changed midway through the first half. Radu Dragusin brought down Lewandowski inside the box and received a red card.
Lewandowski stepped up and converted the penalty in the 24th minute to put Poland ahead. Poland controlled the game after that but could not add another goal before the break.
They did not have to wait long in the second half. Nicola Zalewski created the second goal with a low pass into the area. Lewandowski finished from close range in the 47th minute.
Poland soon made it 3-0 when Virgil Ghita turned Przemyslaw Frankowski’s cross into his own net. Piotr Zielinski added another with a fine volley after Romania failed to clear the danger.
Jan Bednarek then headed home from Sebastian Szymanski’s corner to make it five. Lewandowski completed his hat trick in the 86th minute. He fired home from inside the box to complete Poland’s 6-0 win.
The three goals took Lewandowski to 92 goals for Poland. It was also the seventh hat trick of his international career.
The result gave Poland their first victory in eight Nations League matches and their first win of the current campaign.
Romania, meanwhile, have lost all three of their matches in this Nations League campaign.
