Belgium’s European qualifying match against Sweden canceled after Brussels shooting; Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal to victory

Belgium’s Euro 2024 qualifying match against Sweden was called off at half-time with fans kept inside the stadium for security reasons after two Swedes were shot dead in an attack in Brussels on Monday.

Belgium’s Euro 2024 qualifying match against Sweden was called off at half-time with fans kept inside the stadium for security reasons after two Swedes were shot dead in an attack in Brussels on Monday.

Spectators at the King Baudouin Stadium in the Belgian capital were told to stay inside after it was announced that players would not return for the second half.

UEFA said on its website: “Following tonight’s suspected terrorist attack in Brussels and after consultation with the two teams and local police, it has been decided to cancel the Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden.”

The Swedish Football Association said Belgian police had told supporters to “remain in the stadium for safety reasons”.

Two Swedish nationals were shot dead by a suspect who is still at large, in an attack that Belgium’s prime minister called “terrorism”.

Several Belgian media said two of the victims were wearing Swedish national team jerseys.

“Our condolences go out to all the relatives of those affected in Brussels,” the Swedish Football Association said in a social media post.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected,” the Belgian national team’s account wrote.

Belgium, which had already qualified for next year’s World Cup, equalized through Romelu Lukaku’s penalty after Victor Chokeres had opened the scoring for Sweden, with play suspended at 1-1.

Belgian media reported that Swedish players were unwilling to continue playing after learning of the attack.

Earlier on Monday, Austria beat Azerbaijan 1-0 in Group F’s other match to become the eighth team to reach the final in Germany.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzer scored the penalty three minutes after half-time substitute Ralf Rangnick’s side came on.

-Perfect Portugal-

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and Portugal beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-0 to maintain a perfect record in Group J.

Ronaldo, 38, converted an early penalty in Zenica before doubling Portugal’s lead with a deft finish and extending his men’s international goals record to 127.

Bruno Fernandez scored the third goal, Joao Cancelo also added a goal, and Joao Felix made it five before half-time.

Portugal sealed first place with two games remaining and secured qualification by scoring 32 goals and conceding just two in a 3-2 win over Slovakia on Friday.

Slovakia consolidated its second place position with a 1-0 win over Luxembourg.

Gylfi Sigurdsson scored twice for Iceland, helping them beat Liechtenstein 4-0 and maintain their lead.

In the Group B match, Van Dijk took a penalty kick in stoppage time to help the Netherlands beat Greece 1-0 away from home.

Wout Weghorst saved a first-half penalty for the Netherlands in Athens but Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk made no mistake after fouling Denzel Dumfries.

After the Dutch team defeated Greece at home and away, they tied with Greece with 12 points and occupied the advantage in the encounter. Ronald Koeman’s side have a game in hand as they bid to finish second in the group behind group winners France.

Brighton’s 18-year-old starlet Evan Ferguson was one of the goalscorers as the Republic of Ireland defeated Gibraltar 4-0 in Portugal.