Substitutes Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens prevented Belgium's
much-hyped World Cup campaign falling flat as they came from behind to
beat Algeria.
Belgium, seen by many as genuine contenders in
Brazil, were losing to Sofiane Feghouli's first-half penalty until coach
Marc Wilmots made all three substitutions by the 65th minute.
First
Fellaini levelled with a towering header 20 minutes from time then
Mertens, sent on at the interval, rifled home Eden Hazard's 80th-minute
pass.
Kevin De Bruyne played a key role in both goals having struggled as much as anyone in the first period.
Belgium
were ponderous throughout the first half, despite enjoying the lion's
share of possession. Hazard and De Bruyne saw plenty of the ball but
struggled to break down an organised Algeria leaving Romelu Lukaku
isolated and out of the game.
With Rafik Halliche and Madjid
Bougherra confidently marshalling the penalty area, Belgium began to
rely on longer-range attempts, with Axel Witsel finally working Rais
M'Bolhi with a drive from 25 yards.
Algeria needed to make the
most of their own breaks and duly won a penalty with their first serious
foray. Nabil Bentaleb started things by releasing Faouzi Ghoulam on the
left and his whipped cross from the left was heading for Feghouli.
The
striker might not have reached it but Jan Vertonghen rendered that
academic when he made a mess of his tracking run and felled his man.
Feghouli eyed Thibault Courtois all the way as he rolled his shot home.
Belgium
attempted to respond but were drawing blanks. De Bruyne and Vertonghen
wasted a pair of promising free kicks and Witsel saw a second decent
strike saved after taking the ball down on his chest.
Hazard's
line-break gave Nacer Chadli sight of goal before the interval but he
shot tamely at M'Bolhi and was replaced by Mertens at half-time.
The sides exchanged half-chances from corners, Witsel heading over and Carl Medjani flicking past the far post.
By 65 minutes Wilmots had made two more substitutions, Divock Origi and Fellaini on for Lukaku and Mousa Dembele.
Origi had a great early chance, going one-on-one with M'Bolhi only to see his low effort well stopped by the advancing keeper.
It was Fellaini who made the difference, rising to head De Bruyne's curling cross in off the underside of the bar.
Wilmots'
changes continued to reap benefits when Mertens put his side ahead 10
minutes later. De Bruyne was involved again, this time winning back
possession by tackling Feghouli.
That set in motion a swift
counter and Hazard read the situation perfectly, drawing the defence
before finding Mertens, who rifled home.