De Bruyne leads Belgium past New Zealand, wins Group G at World Cup
De Bruyne’s 66th-minute finish capped Belgium’s 5-1 rout and a Trossard-led attack that sent New Zealand home early.
Kevin De Bruyne struck in the 66th minute and Belgium overran New Zealand 5-1 at BC Place in Vancouver to finish first in Group G and move into the round of 32. The result sent New Zealand out of the World Cup and set Belgium up for a knockout match in Seattle on July 1 against a third-place team from Groups A, E, H, I or J.
The game was effectively decided by Belgium’s front line long before De Bruyne arrived for the third goal. Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the 28th minute from a corner and added a second in the 50th after pouncing on a rebound, giving Belgium a 2-0 lead and forcing New Zealand into damage control. Before the first goal, Belgium also had a penalty overturned after a VAR review, but the setback did not slow its control of the match.
De Bruyne’s finish was the clearest illustration of Belgium’s attacking rhythm. Trossard delivered the assist, and De Bruyne swept the ball in from the edge of the box to make it 3-0, a sequence that exposed how easily Belgium could move New Zealand around the field once the first line of pressure was broken. FIFA said the goal also made De Bruyne, at 34 years and 363 days, the oldest player to score for Belgium at a World Cup.
New Zealand briefly found a way back into the game when Elijah Just scored in the 84th minute, but Belgium answered immediately. Romelu Lukaku headed in the fourth goal in the 86th minute, and Alexis Saelemaekers completed the scoring in stoppage time. The final margin matched Belgium’s control of the decisive moments: the De Bruyne-Trossard link repeatedly created space, while New Zealand could not sustain enough pressure to change the tempo.
Thibaut Courtois also left with a place in the record book. His 18th World Cup appearance moved him past Enzo Scifo for the most by a Belgian player in the tournament’s history. Belgium reached the top of Group G on goal difference, with a veteran core still directing games and enough attacking variety to carry it into the knockout stage.
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