Belgium trounced New Zealand 5-1 on Friday to advance to the World Cup knockout rounds, winning their first match of the tournament and finishing first in Group G in Vancouver.
Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard scored twice, while goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers propelled the Red Devils into the final 32, ahead of Egypt on goal difference.
Egypt finished second following a 1–1 draw with Iran in Seattle. The Iranians finished third in their group.
Belgium dominated a lopsided first half and sounded the alarm in New Zealand’s defense early on when Trossard’s angled shot cannoned off the inside of the upright and was cleared off the line by Tyler Binden.
The Red Devils appeared to have taken the lead moments later when Jordanian referee Adham Mohammad pointed to the penalty spot after Trossard’s shot hit the arm of covering defender Finn Surman.
However, VAR directed Mohammad to the monitor for a review of the decision, which ultimately led to its overturning, allowing New Zealand to breathe again.
However, Belgium did not have long to wait for the breakthrough, and Trossard once again proved to be in the right position at the right time, bundling home from close range after De Bruyne’s corner caused panic in the six-yard box.
Trossard effectively sealed the game five minutes into the second half, grabbing a rebound in a packed area and volleying home beyond New Zealand goalkeeper Max Crocombe at the near post.
De Bruyne then scored a beautiful low finish in the 66th minute to make it 3-0, a key goal that saw Belgium leapfrog Egypt to first position on goal difference.
However, a dramatic finish occurred when New Zealand’s Elijah Just volleyed home a consolation strike from the edge of the box, bringing the score to 3-1.
That could have been costly, as the goal pushed Belgium down to second place.
However, Lukaku scored his team’s fourth goal in the 86th minute with his first touch after coming on as a replacement, propelling Belgium back to the top of the table.
Saelemaekers finished the scoring with a shot from the edge of the area.
