Belgium cruised into the World Cup knockout stage with a commanding 5-1 win over New Zealand, securing top spot in Group G and setting up a last-32 showdown with one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
Leandro Trossard starred with two goals, opening the scoring in the 28th minute after a corner from Kevin De Bruyne deflected off a defender and landed perfectly for Trossard to finish from close range. The Belgian forward struck again just after halftime, finishing at the second attempt after a slick De Bruyne pass.
De Bruyne got on the scoresheet himself in the 66th minute, curling in a shot from the edge of the box. New Zealand’s Elijah Just grabbed a late consolation, but Belgium responded with late goals from substitutes Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers to seal an emphatic victory.
