Poles spread the goals against minnows

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI, Kamil Grosicki and Arek Milik all scored twice as Poland bounced back from last week’s defeat by Germany to hammer Gibraltar 8-1 in a onesided Group D qualifier. The Poles are now second on 17 points, two behind leaders Germany and two ahead of the Republic of Ireland with two matches remaining. Grosicki (right) struck twice in the opening 15 minutes before another quickfire double from Lewandowski put the Poles 4-0 up by half-time. Milik was on target twice in the second half while Jakub Blaszczykowski added a penalty and Bartosz Kapustka also netted. Gibraltar, UEFA’s newest international team, fielded just one professional player — Jake Gosling of Bristol Rovers — and he scored a consolation goal in the 87th minute. It was only their second goal in the qualifying campaign but it did little to lift their spirits as they stayed rooted to the foot of the table with zero points from eight games.

PORTUGAL closed in on a finals spot after midfielder Miguel Veloso scored in injury time to snatch a 1-0 win in Albania. Both Group I teams had hit the woodwork before Veloso headed in substitute Ricardo Quaresma’s pass for the late winner. ‘I thought the ball was for me and fortunately I made it,’ Veloso said. Elsewhere, Denmark were denied in Armenia for a second 0-0 draw in four days, complicating the Danes’ chances to secure a berth for the 2016 tournament with ith a top-two finish in the group. Portugal increasedased their lead in thehe group and sit on 15 points. Denmark ark have 12 while Albania have 11, but bothoth Portugal and Albania have a game in hand. Former Manchester United man Naniani hit the woodwork ork in the 13th minute, while Sokol Cikalleshi of Albania crashed a shot off the bar in the 75th. Two minut minutes later, Cristiano R Ronaldo had a chance t to put Portugal in front, but keeper Et Etrit Berisha made a finefin save. The victory came exa exactly one ye year after Albania stunned P Portugal 1-0. A Armenia h have two p points, while S Serbia are ro rock bottom wi with a solitary po point.