Belgium leave it late to beat Russia 1-0 and reach last 16

John Bagratuni, dpa

Substitute Divock Origi scored the winner with two minutes left on Sunday as Belgium beat Russia 1-0 and qualified for the knock-out stages of the World Cup from Group H.

The 19-year-old Origi smashed the ball into the roof of the net from short range after a determined run by man of the match Eden Hazard, three minutes after team-mate Kevin Mirallas was denied by the post in a mainly dull affair.

Alexander Kokorin and Andrey Eshchenko aimed just wide on the other end as Russia now face an uphill battle to advance.

It was the second game decided by the subs of Belgium coach Marc Wilmots.

The Lille forward Origi took the place of Romelu Lukaka in the 57th, after Dries Mertens had come off the bench to score the 2-1 winner in the first game against Algeria.

Belgium improved to six points and are in the last 16 ahead of their last game with South Korea (one). The 2018 hosts Russia also have one and must likely beat Algeria (zero) in their finale to stay in the tournament. Algeria and South Korea meet later Sunday in Porto Alegre.

Wilmots had captain Vincent Kompany in the line-up after a midweek groin scare but made three changes, with winger Mertens, midfielder Marouana Fellaini and defender Thomas Vermaelen taking the places of Nacer Chadli, Moussa Dembele and Jan Vertonghen.

Russia had right back Aleksei Kozlov in for Andrey Eshchenko and young Amkar Perm forward Maksim Kannunikov in place of veteran Yuri Zhirkov.

Belgium, who beat Russia 3-2 the last time they met at the 2002 edition, controlled the early action as expected but the first chance belonged to Russia, with Victor Fayzulin trying his luck from 20m out but saved by Thibaut Courtois.

Two minutes on, Kevin de Bruyne raced 50m down the field, passed on to the lively Mertens whosde right-wing cross was barely cleared by Sergey Ignashevich ahead of the lurking Lukaku.

Mertens aimed high and wide in the 22nd minutes from a right angle as the Russians had a hard time coping with the constant changes between Hazard, Fellaini and Kevin De Bruyne in midfield, with Kannunikov in vain trying his luck from long range.

Arsenal's Vermaelen limped off in the 31st after hurting himself in the warm--up, with Vertonghen taking his place in central defence, and the Belgians ran a bit out of steam.

Manchester City's Kompany stayed cool to stop Alexander Kokorin from getting a straight run at Courtois, and the Dynamo Moscow forward then headed inches wide right in the best chance of the game amid the first "Rossya, Rossiya" chants in the Maracana.

The teams returned unchanged from the dressing room and the game also continued in similar fashion with Russia moving forward against surprisingly cautious Belgians, without threatening though.

Lukaku, who was never really in the game, made way for Origi in the 57th but the change failed to light up the mid-day game again as jeers, ohs and ahs from the 73,819 fans accompanied the players into the closing stages.

Eshchenko finally fired inches left in the 83rd to ignite a furious finale. Mirallas' free-kick against the left post came two minutes later before Origi fired the winner on another great day for Belgium subs.