Belgium booked a place in the second round of the FIFA World Cup as a late goal from substitute Divock Origi was enough for Belgium to see off Russia in a Group H encounter at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
The match seemed destined for a goalless draw after both sides struggled to threaten in front of goal with the best chance of the opening half falling to Russia’s Aleksandr Kokorin who headed wide from close range just before half-time.
The scrappy affair continued in the second half until the introduction of Divock Origi for the anonymous Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas for Dries Mertens sparked some life into the Belgian team.
Mirallas came close to breaking the deadlock seven minutes from time as his freekick from 25-yards came off the post.
Belgium would get the winner in the 88th minute through Origi would swept home from close range after being set up from the left flank by Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard.
As a result Belgium has six points from two matches while Russia has one point ahead of the second Group H match tonight between South Korea, with one point, and Algeria that has no point.