Belgium booked their place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage with an emphatic 5-1 victory over New Zealand on Friday, securing their first win of the tournament and finishing top of Group G on goal difference.
A brace from Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard, along with goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers, powered the Red Devils into the Round of 32 ahead of Egypt, who settled for second place after drawing 1-1 with Iran in Seattle.
Iran finished third in the group, while New Zealand bowed out at the foot of the standings.
Belgium dominated from the outset and came within inches of taking an early lead when Trossard’s angled effort struck the inside of the post before being hacked off the line by Tyler Bindon.
The Red Devils thought they had been handed a golden opportunity moments later after Jordanian referee Adham Mohammad awarded a penalty when Finn Surman’s arm appeared to block Trossard’s shot.
However, a VAR review prompted the referee to overturn his decision, giving New Zealand a temporary reprieve.
Belgium’s pressure eventually told midway through the first half.
Trossard opened the scoring from close range after Kevin De Bruyne’s corner caused chaos inside the six-yard box, with the Arsenal winger reacting quickest to bundle the ball over the line.
He doubled Belgium’s advantage five minutes after the restart, controlling a loose ball in a crowded penalty area before volleying past goalkeeper Max Crocombe at the near post.
De Bruyne added a third in the 66th minute, calmly guiding a low finish into the corner to hand Belgium a commanding lead and, crucially, move them above Egypt to the top of the group on goal difference.
New Zealand briefly threatened to complicate matters when Elijah Just volleyed home from the edge of the area to reduce the deficit to 3-1.
The goal temporarily dropped Belgium behind Egypt in the live standings, adding late drama to an otherwise one-sided contest.
But Lukaku restored Belgium’s cushion almost immediately, heading home with his first touch just a minute after coming off the bench in the 86th minute to send the Red Devils back to the summit.
Saelemaekers put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time, drilling home from the edge of the area to complete an emphatic victory that sealed Belgium’s progress as Group G winners.
AFP
