De Bruyne stars as Belgium reach round of 16

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 17, (AP): Substitute Kevin de Bruyne set up one goal and scored the winner himself to give Belgium a 2-1 victory over Denmark in a European Championship game marked by an emotional tribute to Christian Eriksen in the first half.

De Bruyne came on after halftime for his first appearance since sustaining a facial fracture in the Champions League final and squared the ball for Thorgan Hazard to equalize in the 55th minute. He then scored in the 71st with a low shot from outside the area.

The win put Belgium into the round of 16 at Euro 2020.

It was Denmark’s first game since Eriksen’s collapse and the host team started at a furious pace at a raucous Parken Stadium. Yussuf Poulsen scored with a low shot inside the far post in only the second minute.

Players from both teams halted play after 10 minutes as the 25,000 fans at Parken Stadium rose for a minute of thunderous applause in tribute to Eriksen. The midfielder wears the No. 10 shirt for Denmark’s national team.

Ukraine 2, North Macedonia 1 In Bucharest, Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk both scored again, and this time it was enough.

The pair of forwards netted a goal each in the first half to give Ukraine a 2-1 victory over North Macedonia .

SOCCER