Leandro Trossard put in a Player of the Match performance to drag Belgium to the World Cup knockouts on Friday night, scoring two goals.
Belgium went into Friday’s game against New Zealand knowing that a win would send them through to the World Cup knockouts, but a draw may not be enough, and defeat would certainly mean elimination (with New Zealand progressing instead).
It was all on the line for those 90 minutes, and Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard was the man to step up and haul his team over the line almost single-handedly.
Trossard was desperately unlucky not to give Belgium the lead in the 12th minute, as his left-footed shot hit the post and bounced agonisingly along the goalline before being cleared.
Trossard’s next shot of note won Belgium a penalty as it hit a defender’s arm, but it was subsequently overturned by VAR as the arm was in a natural position.
Seven minutes later, Trossard’s efforts were finally rewarded as he turned home from close range after a corner for 1-0.
It could have been 2-0 in the 41st minute, as Trossard set up a good chance for Kevin De Bruyne. Trossard has now created 13 chances at the World Cup, a tournament high, yet he has zero assists.
The Arsenal forward stepped up again himself to score Belgium’s second, volleying home in the 50th minute after his initial shot was blocked.
After Kevin De Bruyne added a third in the 66th minute, Trossard was substituted, with the game all but wrapped up. The match finished 5-1 after a very late flurry of goals, and Trossard deservedly won the Player of the Match award.
As group winners, Belgium will face the third-place team from Group A, I, or J in the last-32, which will be South Korea, Senegal, or Austria/Algeria, depending on the remaining group results.
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