Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group B - Lithuania v Ukraine - LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania - September 7, 2019 Ukraine's Ruslan Malinovsky celebrates scoring their third goal with team mates REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
VILNIUS (Reuters) - Ukraine remained firmly on course to reach Euro 2020 after a 3-0 win at Lithuania on Saturday tightened their grip on qualifying Group B.
The result left the Ukrainians top of the group on 13 points from five games, nine ahead of second-placed Luxemburg who have played a game less.
Third-placed Serbia, who have four points from three games, were at home to European champions Portugal in fourth (two points from two games) later on Saturday. Lithuania are bottom with one point from four games.
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group B - Lithuania v Ukraine - LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania - September 7, 2019 Ukraine's Marlos in action REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
Manchester City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko fired Ukraine ahead in the seventh minute after he picked up a pass from Brazilian-born midfielder Marlos and steered the ball into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
Marlos doubled the advantage in the 29th minute when he capitalised on a defensive blunder and beat Lithuania keeper Emilijus Zubas with a simple finish.
The visitors continued to press forward after the break and Ruslan Malinovskyi added the third on the hour before Lithuania missed several chances to score a late consolation.
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group B - Lithuania v Ukraine - LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania - September 7, 2019 Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko in action with Lithuania's Edvinas Girdvainis REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Toby Davis)
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group B - Lithuania v Ukraine - LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania - September 7, 2019 Ukraine's Marlos scores their second goal REUTERS/Ints KalninsSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group B - Lithuania v Ukraine - LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania - September 7, 2019 Ukraine's Marlos celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Ints KalninsSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group B - Lithuania v Ukraine - LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania - September 7, 2019 Lithuania's Giedrius Matulevicius in action with Ukraine's Marlos REUTERS/Ints KalninsSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group B - Lithuania v Ukraine - LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania - September 7, 2019 Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko REUTERS/Ints KalninsSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group B - Lithuania v Ukraine - LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania - September 7, 2019 Ukraine's Oleksandr Zinchenko celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Ints KalninsSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group B - Lithuania v Ukraine - LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania - September 7, 2019 Ukraine fans inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
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