2014 FIFA World Cup: Belgium vs Russia - As it happened...

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Zee Media Bureau/Dattaraj Thaly Belgium beat Russia 1-0 thanks to a late goal by Divock Origi. This result means Belgium are through to the Round of 16. Match Report » OUR FULL COVERAGE ON WORLD CUP 2014» Belgium`s Team Profile» Belgium`s squad» Russia`s Team Profile» Russia`s squad» Full list of Group Standings» Fixtures & Results» ==================================================================================== Belgium 1-0 Russia 90+2' - Belgium on the break again. Hazard again cuts in from the left and set up the ball for Mirallas to shot. The shot is saved by the keeper. He should have put this game to bed there. 90'- 3 MINUTES OF TIME ADDED ON! 89'- Belgium have left it late again. Hazard's magical feet set up that goal. Brilliant from the Chelsea man. Hazard skipped past the defender and raced to the byline to cut back the cross for Origi who was open. The striker smashed the ball inside the goal 88'- GOAL! Origi 86'- Belgium on the attack now. Hazard twists ans turns inside the box and tries to curl the ball in the net. He has three Belgian defenders around him who block his shot for a corner. 84'- OFF THE POST! Mirallas' free-kick was low and went under the wall. He had the goalkeeper beaten. Luckily for Russia, it went out off the upright. 81'- RUSSIA ALMOST SCORE! Lovely move saw the ball move from the left flank to the right with several players being involved. Eschenko who raced into an open position, received the ball on the edge of the box. His shot just missed the target and went past the left post. 79'- Fellaini flicks on a header to put Origi through on goal. But the linesman has his flag up. Off-side. 78'- Hazard to Origi, who turns on the edge of the box and fires in a shot. The defender blocks it without any problems. 76'- Sustained spell of pressure from Russia on the Belgian goal. Komany and co. holding firm though. 74'- Kevin Mirallas comes on for Mertens who has been lively without any accuracy on his final ball. 74'- Yellow card for Alderweireld for a mistimed tackle. 72'- Free-kick for Russia. The ball came in from the left side and Ignashevich beat Kompany to the header. If only he could give it a bit of direction. The ball goes over the cross bar. 69'- Samedov was through on goal but had Buyten for company who nudges the ball out for a corner. 66'- Russia make adopt a change in strategy as this game nears the end by attacking more in search of the winner. 63'- It is a well known fact the Fabio Capello's teams are hard to break down. Russia are no exception. Belgium need to do a lot more to carve them out. 61'- Substitution by Russia. Kozlov is taken off due to a niggle. He is replaced by Andrey Eschenko. 58' - Belgium on the break after a Russian corner - De Bruyn motors ahead and find Hazard for company on the left. Hazard tries to play a one-two with Origi, but the defense does well to pinch the ball off the striker. 57'- Belgium take off for Romelu Lukaku for Divock Origi. 56'- Hazard skips by one players and threads a ball through for De Bruyn. The ball is over-hit and goes straight to the keeper. 55'- Kanunnikov gallops down the left and tries to cut in but two Belgian defenders make sure he does not get into the box. 52'- Too many passes being cut out by both teams. The Belgians have not been able to gather any momentum in the second half. 50'- More of the first half from both teams so far. The deadlock continues. 48'- Belgium need to show some urgency in the second half if they want to take control of this group. If Russia nick a goal, they could be in trouble. 46'- Russia to get us re-started here at the Maracana. Russia squandered the chance of the match at the stroke of half time. Apart from that, both teams have failed to create chances to score. Merterns has been Belgium's best player and looks the most likely to break the deadlock. HALF TIME: Belgium 0-0 Russia 45'- ONE MINUTE TO BE ADDED ON! 44'- CHANCE OF THE MATCH! Glushakov's cross from the left flank is served on a plate for Kokorin to head home. He head the ball wide. He was left open and had only the keeper to beat. Shocking miss. 40'- 5 minutes to the half-way mark. The game is delicately poised. 38'- Vertonghen's cross is not dealt with by the Russian defense and the ball falls kindly for Lukaku, whose shot is blocked. 36'- Merterns makes a lovely turn to leave the defender in his wake. His low cross for Lukaku is palmed away by Akinfeev. 34'- Capello will be happy with Russia's performance today. They have managed to keep Lukaku and Haxard every quiet. 32'- Substitution for Belgium. Vermaelen comes off for Vertonghen. 30'- Courtois called into action again. Kanunnikov fires one from outside the box. Smart save by the keeper. Russian shooting has been accurate. 28'- Shatov's pass splits two defenders to release Samedov on theright. But Samedov's cross is poor. 26'- Merterns goes past the Russian left-back and crosses the ball. It's not accurate again. But Russia need to resolve this problem on their left. Every Belgium attack seems to be coming from that side. 24' - De Bruyne picks out Merterns with a long ball. The right winger cuts in past one defender but another one quickly thwarts him. Corner for Belgium. 22'- Merterns is causing plenty of problems on the right for Russia. He is released into space and puts in a cross. But it is not accurate. 21'- Shatov skips past Alderweireld on Belgiums right with a neat step-over and crosses the ball for the forwards. But its cross is too high. 20'- Merterns has been a live wire so far. He runs against the the defender and lets one fly from outside the box. Narrowly misses. 18'- Alderweireld puts in a long ball with his left foot for the two Belgians - Lukaku and Fellaini, waiting in the center. But the ball is too long. 14'- De Bruyne makes a long bursting run from the left of Belgium. He cuts in and releases Merterns on the right who crosses for Lukaku, but the Russians cut it out. 12'- Fayzulin gets the ball on the edge of the box and fires in a shot from his left foot. Courtois makes a save to his right and turns the ball for a corner. 11'- Merterns tries the give and go with Witsel on the right. But the return pass is over-hit and Merterns can't make it ahead of the defender. 9'- Mertens tries to run at the right back but the defender does well to cover the ground to clear the ball for a throw-in. 6'- Belgium are looking to attack at every opportunity. 4'- Bright and sunny at the Maracan today. Wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium. Just a perfect day for a great football day. 2'- All of a sudden the Belgian defense was in tatters there. 3 on 2. Bu the attack petered away. 1'- Here we go. Time for the national anthems of the team countries. Belgium first and then Russia. STAT: Belgium are unbeaten in the last seven World Cup matches. The big news so far is that Maraoune Fellaini starts for Belgium. Team line-ups for the match: Russia: Akinfeev, Kozlov, Ignashevich, Kanunnikov, Glushakov, Kokorin, Berezutskiy (c), Shatov, Samedov, Fayzulin, Kombarov Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Kompany (c), Witsel, De Bruyne, Fellaini, Lukaku, Hazard, Mertens, Van Buyten Welcome to our live commentary coverage of the Group H game between Belgium and Russia at the iconic Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. Begium managed to come from behind to win against Algeria in the last match. However, they failed to impress spectators especially since as they were tipped to steamroll the lowly ranked Algeria. Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens, turned around the last match may get a start against Russia. Russia could only manage a draw against Korea Republic in their first match. Alan Dzagoev may get a start today as he was absent from the starting line-up in the first match, but came off the bench to get the equalizer for Russia. If Belgium win, they will book a place in the Round of 16. If Russia win, they will go above Belgium and be in a strong position to make it to the next round. A loss for Capello’s men would seriously dent the chances of progressing beyond the group stage. This match could well turn out to be about Belgium’s attack and Russia’s defense. With the likes of Hazard, Lukaku and Witsel, the Belgians have a lot of firepower upfront. Fabio Capello’s team will be solid at the back and will aim to punish Belgium on the counter.