Belgium lined up with Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku upfront aswell as the masterful Eden Hazard. Seemingly returning goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was keeping the goal safe while former blue Kevin De Bruyne lined up in the Red Devils’ midfield.
There were also familiar faces in the shape of Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen and Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini in the Belgium starting lineup.
Belgium were looking to build on a staggered win over Algeria last Tuesday while Russia were unlucky to draw with South Korea after a very poor piece of goalkeeping by Akinfeev.
It was a rather subdued atmosphere in the early afternoon heat at the Maracana stadium and this was somewhat reflected in the first half an hour of play. The first few minutes were also overshadowed by a nasty looking head injury to Russia’s Samedov.
Despite offering little in the attacking department, Russia were the side testing the opposing goalkeepr more often, albeit from range. Courtois was forced into a couple of routine saves while Dries Mertens looked to be the largest threat for Belgium going forward as the Napoli winner constabtly looked to get down the outside of his opposing fullback.
Thomas Vermaelen was forced off with yet another injury following a season full of setbacks, after the defender appeared to pick up a muscular injury during his sides warm up. He was replaced by Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen, who was the culprit when his team went a goal down to Algeria in their opening game.
Moments before the break, Russia had the finest chance so far to put his side infront. After getting on the end of an inch-perfect cross, Kokorin look certain to put the Russians infront with an open header the lack of contact he got with his forehead meant his header went wide at the far post.
A poor half was bought to a close with either side yet to take a real initiative in the game and yet to take one of the few chances coming their way.
Lukaku was replaced 12 minutes into the second period after a poor game. The striker’s movement was poor and he failed to bring the ball into his body and hold it up for his team on many occasions, despite having the typical build to do so. Lille striker Divock Origi replaced him.
Going into the last quarter of the game, we were still looking for a piece of individual inspiration or brilliant team play that may get the opener to a game that was highly anticipated but was starting to frustrate the locals in the Maracana due to the lack of entertainment on show.
And, with 7 minutes to go, Belgium came the closest to opening the scoring. Kevin Mirallas, who replaced Dries Mertens, struck the base of the post from a freekick which promised to liven the game up somewhat.
That chance certainly set up Belgium to finish the game strongly as Chelsea star Eden Hazard picked up the ball and drifted outside his marker before setting up substitute Origi to smash home the opener from inside the area. All three of Belgium’s goals in the competition so far have come from their substitutes.
Hazard continued his fantastic runs through the Russian defence and set up Mirallas who could only find the feet of Akinfeev in the Russian goal.
It wouldn’t matter though with Origi’s goal coming just five minutes before the final whistle was blown and when the game was eventually bought to an end, it confirmed Belgium’s place in the second phase of the competition after two games.
Eden Hazard saved Chelsea fans from disappointment after a lackadaisical performance from Lukaku with a piece of wizardary to set up the winner and put his country in to the round of 16.
Full time: Belgium 1-0 Russia
