Home / Sports / Belgium Crushes New Zealand 5-1 to Reach World Cup Knockouts
Belgium Crushes New Zealand 5-1 to Reach World Cup Knockouts
27 Jun
Summary
- Belgium secured a dominant 5-1 victory over New Zealand to advance.
- Leandro Trossard scored two goals, leading Belgium's offensive charge.
- Belgium finished atop Group G, advancing to the knockout stage.
Belgium showcased a powerful offensive performance, defeating New Zealand 5-1 to advance to the World Cup knockout stage. Leandro Trossard ignited the scoring with two goals, marking Belgium's first goals of the tournament not from an own goal or penalty. Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers rounded out the scoring for the Belgians.
Despite a slow start in the group stage with draws against Egypt and Iran, Belgium finished first in Group G. They will now face a third-place finisher in Seattle on Wednesday. New Zealand, needing an outright win, is eliminated from the tournament without securing a World Cup victory.
Key moments included Trossard's opener in the 28th minute and his second early in the second half. De Bruyne added a spectacular long-range strike in the 66th minute. Elijah Just scored for New Zealand in the 84th minute, but Lukaku and Saelemaekers quickly responded for Belgium in stoppage time.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made his 18th World Cup appearance, setting a new Belgian record. Winger Jérémy Doku also featured after illness and the recent birth of his son.
