BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) – Belgium opened its World Cup campaign with a 2-1 comeback win over Algeria on Tuesday, relying on second-half goals from two substitutes after a tense start in Group H.
Algeria opened the scoring with a penalty in the 25th minute and the surprising lead stood for 45 minutes until Marouane Fellaini’s strong glancing header, with his back to goal, from a Kevin De Bruyne cross.
Fellaini, who many had considered would start the match, had only come onto the pitch five minutes earlier and was coach Marc Wilmots’ final substitution.
Dries Mertens’ right-foot strike beat Algeria’s goalkeeper in the 80th after Eden Hazard saw him free on the right and set him up for the decider. Mertens, who went on at the start of the second half, sent his shot high in the net outside of Rais Mbolhi’s reach.
Group H Standings
Wins
Losses
Draws
Goals For
Goals Against
Points
Belgium
1
0
0
2
1
3
Russia
0
0
0
0
0
0
South Korea
0
0
0
0
0
0
Algeria
0
1
0
1
2
0
Schedule and results
Tuesday, June 17 – Belgium 2, Algeria 1 at Belo Horizonte
Tuesday, June 17 – 6 p.m.: Russia vs South Korea at Cuiaba
Sunday, June 22 – Noon: Belgium vs Russia at Rio de Janeiro
Sunday, June 22 – 3 p.m.: Algeria vs South Korea at Porto Alegre
Thursday, June 26 – 4 p.m.: Belgium vs South Korea at Sao Paulo
Thursday, June 26 – 4 p.m: Algeria vs Russia at Curitiba
