Belgium qualifies for World Cup

In European World Cup soccer qualifying, Belgium overcame stern resistance at Greece to qualify for Russia 2018, winning 2-1. Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku’s winning goal put the Belgians out of reach at the top of Group H.

France wasted its chance to move a step closer to qualification after a 0-0 home draw with Luxembourg that leaves automatic qualification from Group A wide open with two games to go.

Sweden moved one point behind France after easing to a 4-0 win over host Belarus, while midfielder Davy Proepper scored his first two international goals in the Netherlands’ a 3-1 home win against Bulgaria. The Dutch are three points behind Sweden with two games remaining and still have an outside chance of securing a playoff spot.

Group B rivals Switzerland (3-0 over Latvia) and Portugal (2-1 at Hungary) both won, with the Swiss maintaining a perfect record and three-point lead.

Defender Domagoj Vida’s header gave Group I leader Croatia a 1-0 win against Kosovo in a match that started Saturday before being suspended due to a torrential downpour. Cycling: Colombian rider Miguel Angel Lopez won the mountainous 15th stage of the Spanish Vuelta, while Tour de France winner Chris Froome tacked a few seconds onto his overall lead. A late surge by Froome allowed him to grow the gap over Vincenzo Nibali to 1 minute, 1 second.