World Cup Group Stage - 3
New Zealand 1 - 5 FT Belgium
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
L. Trossard 28'
HT
46' ↓ S. Singh ↑J. Randall
46' ↓ R. Thomas ↑B. Old
46' M. Stamenic
L. Trossard (H. Vanaken) 50'
56' E. Just
↓ J. Doku ↑M. Fernandez-Pardo 56'
64' ↓ T. Payne ↑M. Boxall
64' ↓ J. Bell ↑C. McCowatt
K. De Bruyne 66'
↓ L. Trossard ↑A. Saelemaekers 72'
↓ K. De Bruyne ↑A. Onana 72'
79' ↓ L. Cacace ↑F. De Vries
84' E. Just
↓ C. De Ketelaere ↑R. Lukaku 85'
↓ Y. Tielemans ↑N. Raskin 85'
R. Lukaku (N. Raskin) 86'
A. Saelemaekers (R. Lukaku) 90'+4
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
New Zealand
Goalkeepers
Max Crocombe 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
93
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Tim Payne
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
Finn Surman 
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
0
Interceptions
1
Tackles
Tyler Bindon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
93
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Liberato Cacace
LATE SHIFT
11
Late Mins
11
Late Mins
79
Total Mins
79
Entry
Midfielders
Joe Bell
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
Marko Stamenić
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
0
Interceptions
0
Tackles
Sarpreet Singh
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
0
Interceptions
0
Tackles
Ryan Thomas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Elijah Just 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Forwards
Chris Wood
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
93
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Michael Woud 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Alex Paulsen
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Michael Boxall
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nando Pijnaker
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Francis De Vries
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tommy Smith
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Callan Elliot
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Callum McCowatt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alex Rufer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lachlan Bayliss
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jesse Randall
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
48
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Benjamin Old
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
48
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Logan Rogerson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kosta Barbarouses
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ben Waine
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Belgium
Goalkeepers
Thibaut Courtois
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
93
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Timothy Castagne
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
93
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Brandon Mechele
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
93
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Arthur Theate 
STORMTROOPER
4
Shots
4
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Maxim De Cuyper 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
51%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Youri Tielemans
LATE SHIFT
5
Late Mins
5
Late Mins
85
Total Mins
85
Entry
Hans Vanaken
ARCHITECT
7
Key Passes
7
Key Passes
1
Assists
49%
Pass Acc
Jérémy Doku
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
56
Total Mins
56
Entry
Kevin De Bruyne
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
41%
Pass Acc
Leandro Trossard 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
8.3
Rating
Forwards
Charles De Ketelaere
LATE SHIFT
5
Late Mins
5
Late Mins
85
Total Mins
85
Entry
BENCH
Senne Lammens
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Mike Penders
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Joaquin Seys
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Koni De Winter
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Thomas Meunier
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Amadou Onana
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicolas Raskin 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
8
Minutes
7.3
Rating
Axel Witsel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Matías Fernández-Pardo
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
0
Assists
9%
Pass Acc
Diego Moreira
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dodi Lukebakio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alexis Saelemaekers 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
6.9
Rating
Romelu Lukaku
CLUTCH HERO
86
Goal Time
86
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.2
Rating
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Belgian Blitz Turns BC Place into a Shooting Gallery
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 84/100. A relentless attacking siege from Belgium overwhelmed New Zealand, culminating in a dramatic late-game flurry that cemented their dominance.
The Opening Assault
Right from the kick-off at BC Place, Belgium made their intentions crystal clear on the global stage. They completely dictated the early tempo, controlling possession and pinning the underdogs deep inside their own half. The sheer Intensity of their pressing suffocated the opposition, leaving no room for counter-attacks. It felt like merely a matter of time before the mounting corner pressure paid off. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 28th minute when L. Trossard found the back of the net, rewarding his side's dominant early phases. This opener set the tone, transforming a tentative group stage clash into a full-scale assault. The attacking verve displayed by the European heavyweights immediately put the Oceania side on the back foot, forcing them into a desperate defensive block just to survive the opening half.
The Total Siege
The second half saw the match spiral entirely out of control for the trailing side, as the one-sided affair morphed into a relentless shooting gallery. A staggering barrage of 34 Belgian shots peppered the goal, completely destroying any lingering sense of Balance on the pitch. The pivotal turning point struck just five minutes after the restart when H. Vanaken perfectly teed up Trossard to seal a clinical brace. That second goal broke the opposition's spirit, clearing the stage for a true midfield masterclass. At the heart of it all was K. De Bruyne, who dictated every phase of play before firing home a spectacular third in the 66th minute. With 13 combined corners adding to the set-piece misery, the sheer volume of high-quality chances rendered the contest virtually unplayable for the overwhelmed defenders.
The Chaotic Climax
Just when the tempo seemed to settle, the final ten minutes delivered a completely chaotic climax that sent the crowd into a frenzy. A glimmer of resistance emerged at the 84-minute mark when E. Just managed to snatch a consolation goal for New Zealand, briefly injecting life into the stadium. However, the European giants responded with lethal precision straight off the bench. Substitute N. Raskin instantly made his mark, setting up fellow replacement R. Lukaku in the 86th minute to instantly crush the brief rebellion. The goal flurry was not over; Lukaku then turned provider for A. Saelemaekers right at the death in the 90th minute. This staggering sequence of three goals in just six minutes underscored the high Stakes of tournament football, securing a ruthless 5-1 triumph that firmly stamps their authority on the group.
Key Questions
What made Kevin De Bruyne the Man of the Match?
He orchestrated the midfield with four key passes, controlled the tempo, and netted a brilliant 66th-minute goal to anchor Belgium's dominance.
What caused the 6-goal thriller?
A combination of Belgium's sheer volume—34 total shots—and a chaotic final six minutes featuring three rapid-fire goals from both sides.
What does this mean for New Zealand's season?
Remaining on just one point, this heavy defeat all but seals their exit from the World Cup group stage.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Group Stage Survival Hangs in the Balance at BC Place
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 41/100. With both sides locked on a single point, this is a winner-takes-all showdown where a single mistake means booking a flight home.
The Setup
The June 27 showdown at BC Place is the definition of a high-pressure fixture. An off-the-charts Stakes rating confirms this is practically a knockout tie already. Belgium arrived with massive expectations but find themselves sputtering with a modest Form rating after a sluggish opening match. They face a resilient New Zealand side that has shocked critics by topping the group early on goals scored. The Balance of power heavily favors the European heavyweights on paper, but tournament football rarely cares about reputations when survival is on the line.
Key Battle
E. Just has been electric for the underdogs, driving their attack with fearless intent and finishing his chances. He will be running headlong into Youri Tielemans, who must dictate the tempo and shield a Belgian backline that looks vulnerable on the counter. If Just finds space to operate, the tournament's biggest Stars might be forced to pack their bags much earlier than anticipated.
Our Prediction
Belgium's superior quality should eventually break through, but it won't be a pretty watch. Our expected game script sees New Zealand sitting deep and frustrating their opponents for an hour, before a late Belgian surge secures a tense 2-1 victory.