- Poland swept aside Armenia with Robert Lewandowski scoring a hat-trick
- Bayern Munich striker scored twice in first-half to eclipse Wlodzimierz Lubanski
- Lewandowski has now scored 50 goals for his country in 90 senior appearances
- Group E leaders swept aside Armenia with three goals in the opening 25 minutes
Robert Lewandowski became Poland’s all-time leading scorer with 50 goals after netting a hat-trick in their World Cup qualifier in Armenia on Thursday.
Lewandowski has now scored 24 goals in his last 14 qualifiers for Poland, with The Eagles producing the complete performance to strengthen their grip on top spot in Group E.
Poland have 22 points from nine matches and need one more at home to Montenegro on Sunday to clinch their place in Russia.
Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick to lead Poland to a 6-1 win in Armenia on Thursday
Lewandowski became the all-time leading scorer to put Poland on the brink of qualification
They could qualify later on Thursday if Montenegro and Denmark, level on 16 points from eight games, draw their match in Podgorica.
Hull winger Kamil Grosicki scored the opener at the Hanrapetakan Stadium in Yerevan with a near-post finish from Lukasz Piszczek’s cross to get the ball rolling, before Lewandowski took charge, scoring twice.
The striker, making his 90th appearance, doubled their lead after 18 minutes when he curled a free kick over the wall and into the top corner after a foul on Piotr Zielinski.
Seven minutes later, Poland were gifted an indirect free kick from eight metres after Armenia defender Taron Voskanyan passed the ball back to goalkeeper Grigor Meliksetyan who picked it up.
The Bayern Munich striker celebrates with Hull’s Kamil Grosicki after the opening goal
Lewandowski blasts in an indirect free-kick to take his tally beyond Wlodzimierz Lubanski
Poland are six points clear at the top of Group E ahead of Thursday’s remaining fixtures
Grosicki rolled the ball to Lewandowski who drilled his shot through a wall of defenders on the line to overhaul Wlodzimierz Lubanski’s record of 48 goals.
Hovhannes Hambardzumyan rose to head in from a corner and pull one back for Armenia six minutes before halftime.
But there was no stopping Poland and Jakub Blaszczykowski got on the scoresheet in the 57th minute, collecting the ball near the touchline before cutting inside and firing a low shot through Melitsetyan’s fingers.
Lewandowski took advantage of poor marking to complete his hat-trick from close range seven minutes later before substitute Rafal Wolski completed the rout in the 89th minute, scoring from close range after the home defence got into another tangle.
Armenia’s seventh defeat in their ninth qualifying game leaves them only above Kazakhstan in the group. Poland can guarantee themselves a place at next year’s World Cup finals with a victory over Montenegro on Sunday.
The striker has set a record for goals in a single European qualifying campaign with 15 strikes
Midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski (No 16) is all smiles after extending Poland’s lead in Yerevan
Rafal Wolski is congratulated by Lewandowski after his first international goal sealed the rout