A late goal from substitute Divock Origi ensured Belgium booked their place in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 win over Russia.
Marc Wilmots’ side looked set to suffer frustration at the Maracana on Sunday after looking short of ideas against Fabio Capello’s well-organised team.
However, teenage striker Origi came off the bench to grab an 88th-minute winner – his first international goal – and secure progression from Group H with a game to spare.
Two substitutes, Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens, had combined to help Belgium come from behind to beat Algeria in their first match, and another change paid dividends for Wilmots on this occasion, leaving Russia stunned.
Prior to Origi’s strike, Belgium had hit the post through Kevin Mirallas, while Russia striker Aleksandr Kokorin spurned the best chance of the first half when heading wide from an unmarked position.
Russia, who were held by South Korea in their opening game, will now require assistance from elsewhere if they are to join Belgium in the knockout stages.
Fellaini and Mertens were rewarded for their goalscoring exploits against Algeria with places in the Belgium starting line-up, at the expense of Nacer Chadli and Mousa Dembele, while skipper Vincent Kompany was passed fit and Thomas Vermaelen came in for Jan Vertonghen.
Alexei Kozlov and Maxim Kanunnikov came into the Russia side, with Andrey Yeshchenko and Yuri Zhirkov dropping to the bench.
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