New Zealand goal: Just (84), Belgium goals: Trossard (28, 50), De Bruyne (66), Lukaku (86), Saelemaekers (90+4)
A last-gasp header from substitute Romelu Lukaku secured top spot on a rollercoaster day of action in Group G at the , with being eliminated in the process.
Belgium dominated proceedings from the first whistle at , and Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the 28th minute when he nudged home from inside the six-yard box after New Zealand had failed to deal with an in-swinging corner from the left.
The Red Devils remained in control in the second half and Trossard doubled their lead five minutes after the restart, lashing in a rebound after his first effort had been blocked.
Kevin De Bruyne then swept in a sweet low strike from outside the area in the 66th minute, making him the oldest player to score for Belgium at the FIFA World Cup aged 34 years and 363 days.
New Zealand pulled one back courtesy of a fine strike from Elijah Just with six minutes remaining, but two minutes after that Lukaku pounced to lift his side to the top of Group G on goal difference before Alexis Saelemaekers added a fifth in the fourth minute of time added on.
Belgium will now meet the third-placed team from Group A, E, H, I or J in the Round of 32 in Seattle on 1 July.
Thibaut Courtois, with his 18th appearance, has eclipsed Enzo Scifo to go outright first in terms of Belgium games at the World Cup.
"It’s really disappointing. Obviously we knew coming in it would be a big task, Belgium have so much quality. We gave it a go, we kept it close in the first half, but I think when the game opened up they showed their quality and they deserve to go through.” Elijah Just, New Zealand midfielder
Sources: FIFA Official
