Christian Benteke set a new World Cup record for the fastest goal in the competition, including the finals, in Belgium's qualifier against Gibraltar
Belgium's forward Christian Benteke (L) celebrates his goal with teammate Dries Mertens during the WC 2018 football qualification match Gibraltar vs Belgium at the Faro Municipal Stadium in Faro on October 10, 2016. Pic/AFP
Faro (Portugal): Christian Benteke set a new World Cup record for the fastest goal in the competition, including the finals, in Belgium's qualifier against Gibraltar here.
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The 25-year-old Crystal Palace striker, who was to bag a hat-trick, picked up the ball to score after just seven seconds in the first action of the Group H qualifier on Monday with the Gibraltar defence in disarray, leaving goalie Deren Ibrahim with no chance, reports Xinhua.
Benteke's quick-fire goal eclipsed the previous best of 8.3 seconds achieved by San Marino's Davide Gualtieri in a World Cup qualifier against England in November 1993.
The record for the fastest goal in a World Cup finals match is 10.8 seconds by Turkey's Hakan Sukur against South Korea in 2002.
Benteke, who was called up as a replacement for the injured Romelu Lukaku, also secured the record for the fastest goal in Belgium's history.
Benteke went on to score twice more in a 6-0 demolition of Gibraltar.
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