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Attendance: 56,800
Belgium national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Jun 17, 2014 at 5pm UK
 
Algeria national football team

2-1

Fellaini (70'), Mertens (80')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Feghouli (25' pen.)

Belgium fight back to beat Algeria

Belgium come from behind to beat Algeria 2-1 in their opening match of the World Cup.

Belgium have come from behind to beat Algeria 2-1 in their opening match of the World Cup in Belo Horizonte.

Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens both came off the bench to score for the Belgians after Sofiane Feghouli had given Algeria a first-half lead.

Belgium's midfielder Dries Mertens (L) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Group H football match against Algeria on June 17, 2014© Getty Images

Both sides started the encounter in cautious fashion, but Algeria came close to making the breakthrough on 17 minutes when Riyad Mahrez sliced his effort high and wide on the angle.

Belgium threatened minutes later when Axel Witsel tried his luck from 20 yards, though his drive parried away by goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi.

The Belgians struggled to get going for much of the first half, and they were punished on 26 minutes as the Algerians went ahead from the penalty spot.

Jan Vertonghen was adjudged to have dragged Sofiane Feghouli to ground inside the area before the midfielder dusted himself off to slot the resulting penalty past Thibaut Courtois.

Sofiane Feghouli of Algeria celebrates scoring a penalty during the World Cup Group H match against Belgium in Belo Horizonte on June 17, 2014© Getty Images

Belgium started to look more dangerous after going behind as Witsel and Vertonghen both had chances, but Algeria held firm to maintain their lead.

Another opening fell the way of Nacer Chadli late on in the first half when he was played in on the angle, but the midfielder's scuffed shot was easily held by M'Bolhi.

Despite Belgium being improved at the start of the second period following the introduction of Dries Mertens for the disappointing Chadli, they continued to find it difficult to break the disciplined Algerians down.

Algeria could have doubled their advantage on 54 minutes when Carl Medjani glanced a header wide from a corner, while Vertonghen blasted an effort wildly off target at the other end.

Divock Origi was brought on for Romelu Lukaku midway through the second half, and the substitute should have equalised for Belgium when he was put clean through. However, his tame poke towards goal was kept out by M'Bolhi.

Marouane Fellaini was another substitute deployed by manager Marc Wilmots as time began to run out for Belgium, and the midfielder made his mark with 20 minutes left to play by heading in an equaliser for his side following a cross from the left.

Belgium's midfielder Marouane Fellaini celebrates after scoring during a Group H football match between Belgium and Algeria on June 17, 2014© Getty Images

Belgium then turned the game around on 80 minutes as Mertens found space inside the box to drill the ball past M'Bolhi at the near post.

A Fellaini header was saved late on as Belgium looked to increase their lead, while the midfielder could have found the net again before letting the ball get away from him from close range.

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Belgium players pose for a team photo before the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group H match between Belgium and Algeria at Estadio Mineirao on June 17, 2014
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Group A

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Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
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4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

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Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

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Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

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Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

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Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
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Group F

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Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

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Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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