Romelu Lukaku Beats Samuel Eto’o’s Record at Inter Milan
Former Manchester United and Chelsea Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku scored his ninth consecutive Europa League goal to set a record in the Europe League as they thrashed German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen 2-1. Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella fired home an excellent 20-yard strike to give Inter the lead in the first 15 minutes od the game before Romelu Lukaku doubled the led in the 21st of the game, the German Bundesliga side came back just three minutes later as Havertz gave the visitors a lifeline which later became only a consolation.
Romelu Lukaku controlled his Manchester United teammate Ashley Young’s pass, turned a defender and slotted home for his 31st goal of the season. The goal was his ninth consecutive goal of the Europa League which he is the first in Inter Milan jersey to do such, Kai Havertz smashed home from six yards out to give Leverkusen hope but they could not find a leveller to force extra time in the one-off tie.
Antonio Conte’s side will face the winner of Shakhtar Donetsk v Basel in the semi-final on 17 August, also in Dusseldorf which will be playing this evening. Lukaku is the first player to ever score in nine Uefa Cup or Europa League matches in a row, although that run includes five games for Everton in 2014-15. He twice prepared to take a penalty in the first half and in injury time in the end but both times the decisions were overturned by the video assistant referee.
The Belgium international said: “We are growing but we have to learn to kill games off when we have the chances to do it, and we didn’t tonight,””Now we have time to recover physically and prepare for another great game. We will have to be ready.” He has broken Samuel Eto’o’s record in Inter Milan in 2010-11.