Thanks to two goals from Trossard, Belgium crushed New Zealand 5-1 in Vancouver, in a match for the 3rd and final matchday of the 7th group of the World Cup, and celebrated first place in the group and qualification to the “32”, while the losers were eliminated from the continuation. The “Red Devils” won the first place in the group thanks to their better goal difference than Egypt and now turn their attention to the knockout match, where they will face a team from the eight best third places.

Belgium dominated from the start of the match and their pressure paid off in the 28th minute with Trossard, while the Arsenal ace doubled the European team’s goals in the 50th minute. De Bruyne increased the score to 3-0 in the 66th minute, effectively “locking in” the victory. New Zealand, who are still “looking” for their “maiden” victory in a World Cup finals, reduced the deficit with Just in the 84th minute, but Lukaku in the 86th minute and Salemakers in injury time (90+4′) gave dimensions of triumph to Belgium’s victory.

Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
Yellow cards: Stamenic, Just
Red cards: –

The compositions:

NEW ZEALAND (Darren Baisley): Crocombe, Paine (64′ Boxall), Binton, Casas (79′ De Vries), Sherman, Bell (64′ McCawt), Stamenic, Singh (46′ Randall), Just, Thomas (46′ Old), Wood.

BELGIUM (Rudi Garcia): Courtois, Theate, Mechele, De Kuyper, Castanet, De Bruyne (72′ Onana), Tielemans (85′ Raskin), Vanaken, Trossard (72′ Salemakers), Doku (56′ Fernandez-Pardo), De Ketelare (85′ Lukaku).