Belgium Beats Russia 1-0

Image via bbc.co.uk

Belgium and Russia met this afternoon in each team's second Group H match, and for 80 minutes both sides played much more not to lose, rather than to win. Then, suddenly, Belgium woke up and began an onslaught on the Russian goal, finally breaking through on a goal from substitute Divock Origi in the 88th minute to win the game 1-0.   

With the win, Belgium have secured a spot in the knockout stage of the tournament, an expected result for the heavy Group H favorites. Russia will once again have one moment to lament that cost them points, and now will face a must-win against Algeria in their final group match to have any hope of advancing.

We’ll focus here on the final 10 minutes, which saw Belgium get a flurry of chances. First, a free kick from outside the box rattled the post:

Then, a delightful bit of individual play from Eden Hazard ended with a shot whistling just wide:

At last, in the 88th minute, Hazard was able to pick out the waiting Origi (who had come on for the ineffective Romelu Lukaku), who made no mistake in slamming the shot past Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev:

It was the result Belgium needed to get from this game, and ultimately the win justifies the relatively flat first 80 minutes of the game. While that sort of uninspired play may cost them in later rounds, Belgium are through and have the good fortune of playing in perhaps the easiest group in the tournament. 

Fans watching the game, though, can totally relate to how this guy felt:

Danny MillsFormer England defender

"On the balance of play, Belgium do not deserve it, but Marc Wilmots will say, 'We have six points from two games, we are growing into this tournament'. But they have been poor. They will not go far."

Source: Complex Sports

By DOUG SIBOR