Watch: Former Man Utd Striker Claims European Record As Inter, Red Devils Qualify For Europa Semis

Romelu Lukaku’s goal proved pivotal in Inter Milan’s 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League on Monday. It also vaulted him into the record books.

Lukaku became the first-ever player to score in nine consecutive Europa League or UEFA Cup matches, breaking the record of eight he previously shared with Newcastle United forward Alan Shearer.

Lukaku’s nine-match run also included five matches for Everton in 2014-15. The Belgian national was also the first player to score in six successive European matches for Inter Milan.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the remaining UEFA Europa and Champions League matches will have just one leg. Therefore, with Monday’s victory, Inter Milan qualified for the 2019-20 Europa League’s semi-final. The other team to advance to the top four so far is Manchester United after their 1-0 victory over Copenhagen on Monday.

Antonio Conte's Inter will face the winner of Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Basel in the semi-final on Monday, Aug. 17, in Dusseldorf.

"We are growing, but we have to learn to kill games off when we have the chance to do it, and we didn't tonight. Now we have time to recover physically and prepare for another great game. We will have to be ready," said Lukaku in a post-match interview on Monday.

Inter are just two wins away from clinching their first trophy since Coppa Italia in 2011 and Lukaku, who is closing in on Samuel Eto'o’s record at the club, has played a huge role in their success this season.

Lukaku, who moved from Man Utd to San Siro in the summer of 2019, has been an instant hit at Inter Milan. After scoring 42 goals in two seasons at Old Trafford, Lukaku has already netted 31 goals in his maiden season for Inter Milan. He is six goals away from Eto’o’s record of most goals in a single season for Inter Milan.

The African legendary striker also holds the record for of the most European involvements for Inter in a single season, which he achieved during the 2010-11 season when he scored eight goals and provided five assists. Lukaku, in the ongoing campaign, has scored six goals and three assists in the European tournament, excluding the qualifiers.