Belgian bench drives comeback
June 17, 2014
Facing the pressure of being seemingly everybody's "outside tip" for a World Cup surprise, Belgium went into their first World Cup since 2002 with the unlikely label of potential winners. Only Bayern Munich's Daniel van Buyten, a mildly surprising inclusion in central defense, had prior World Cup experience. This heavy focus seemed to stifle the Belgian game.
Marc Wilmots' gifted side struggled to break Algeria down for the majority of Tuesday's match in Belo Horizonte, displaying a particularly uninspiring performance in the first half. Two long shots from Axel Witsel in midfield, ably parried by Rais M'Bohli in Algeria's goal, amounted to Belgium's complete attacking output before the break.
Algeria offered more, in the form of key attacker Sofiane Feghouli. Feghouli won a clear-cut penalty from Jan Vertonghen in the 20th minute, with the Belgian left-back booked for his tug on Feghouli's arm. The Valencia star duly stepped up to the spot, sending Thibaut Courtois the wrong way to put Algeria ahead.
Despite dominating possession, the Belgians had no answer before dipping into their well-stocked bench at half time.
Quality in reserve
Dries Mertens took to the field for the second half, with Marouane Fellaini following soon after. Wilmots' experiments ultimately paid, his side established more of a foothold and spaces began to open up in the sunshine, allowing the Red Devils to rescue their opening World Cup day.
Wolfsburg star Kevin de Bruyne, looking a little like a Red Devil himself with his hefty sunburn, picked out the aerial threat Fellaini with an excellent swirling cross 20 minutes before the end. Fellaini's header clipped the underside of M'Bohli's crossbar, but nestled in the Algerian net.
The equalizer demoralized Algeria after their rearguard defense of a one-goal lead, allowing Belgium to play with more purpose. A swift break down the inside-right channel, precisely the sort of forward motion that was missing for an hour or so, ended with substitute Dries Mertens rifling a shot into the top corner.
Belgium therefore claim three points to open the last World Cup group, before Russia and South Korea square off in Group H in the latest of Tuesday's matches. Prior to that, however, hosts Brazil play Mexico in arguably the most important match of the day.