Denmark scored the second-fastest goal in European Championship history but Belgium advanced to the knockout stages after Kevin de Bruyne orchestrated a 2-1 comeback victory in their Group B match on Thursday.

Denmark had the perfect start when midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg intercepted the ball to feed an unmarked Yussuf Poulsen, who arrowed a right-footed shot into the bottom corner with 99 seconds on the clock.

Belgium were poor in the first half but equalised nine minutes into the second from a counter-attack when Romelu Lukaku used his power to drive the ball forward and found De Bruyne, who squared the ball for Thorgan Hazard to score with a tap-in.

De Bruyne then broke Danish hearts when he gave Belgium the lead in the 70th minute, receiving the ball at the edge of the box from a slick passing move and firing a left-footed shot that beat goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Belgium have a maximum six points from two games, while Denmark are bottom of the group after two losses. Russia and Finland have three points each after two games.

MATCH FACTS

Belgium have won their opening two matches at a European Championships tournament for the very first time, while Denmark have lost their first two EUROs games for the first time since EURO 2000.

Belgium have won 11 of their last 12 group stage matches at major tournaments (World Cup + EUROs), winning seven in a row since a 2-0 defeat to Italy at EURO 2016.

Since Roberto Martínez’s first match in charge of Belgium in September 2016, the Belgians have won 45 matches in all competitions, two more than any other European team in that time.

Yussuf Poulsen’s goal after just 99 seconds for Denmark was the second quickest goal in a match in European Championships history, with only Dmitry Kirichenko’s goal for Russia against Greece at EURO 2004 coming earlier (65 seconds).

Belgium managed just one shot in the first half, their fewest in a match under Roberto Martínez since his first game in charge against Spain in September 2016 (also one shot).

With both coming on as substitutes and assisting, both Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne became the only two European players to assist a goal at each of the last four major tournaments (2014 World Cup, EURO 2016, 2018 World Cup, EURO 2020).

Belgium conceded a goal inside the opening two minutes of a match for the first time since May 2006 against Turkey, when Necati Ates scored in the second minute.

Dries Mertens won his 100th cap for Belgium in this match, becoming only the fifth player to earn 100+ caps for the Belgian national team, after Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Axel Witsel and Eden Hazard. (Reuters)