Poland move closer to qualification with 8-1 defeat of Gibraltar

Poland moved a step closer to qualifying for Euro 2016 with a crushing 8-1 victory over Group D opponents Gibraltar in Warsaw.

Gibraltar made an encouraging start but it was the hosts who opened the scoring after only eight minutes, Robert Lewandowski providing the cross for teammate Kamil Grosicki to head home.

Poland doubled their lead after 15 minutes with a quality finish from Grosicki, who chipped the ball over Jordan Perez after making the most of a defensive slip-up.

It then became the Lewandowski show as the Bayern Munich striker scored twice in the space of 10 minutes.

His first was a neat finish from the edge of the penalty area after 19 minutes, and he struck again approaching the half-hour mark.

Arkadiusz Milik created the chance with a fine cross and Lewandowski made no mistake from close range.

The Poles added two more goals early in the second half, Milik making it five with a neat finish in the 56th minute before Lewandowski was brought down in the penalty area and Jakub Blaszczykowski stepped up to convert his spot-kick.

Milik added his second of the game with a left-footed volley, and Bartosz Kapustka got in on the act with their eighth goal after 74 minutes.

But Gibraltar had the final word, with Jake Gosling on target in the 87th minute.