BelgiumvsNew Zealand
BEL 5/NZL 1
Things to say
Belgium hammered New Zealand 5-1 at BC Place to close out the group stage.
01
opener
Belgium just put five past New Zealand. Honestly it was men against boys. The Kiwis hung around early but the floodgates opened.
02
key player
Trossard was everywhere — seven shots and a constant menace on that left side. Carved them up.
03
hot take
Five goals and Courtois only had to make one save. That back line never tested him.
04
deep cut
Crocombe in the NZ goal made five saves and still shipped five. Imagine the scoreline without him.
05
exit
Anyway, Belgium are rolling into the knockouts now — that's where it gets real.
The recap
Belgium turned up at BC Place and handed New Zealand an absolute paddling, running out 5-1 winners. Leandro Trossard was the danger man all night, peppering the goal with seven shots while the Belgians carved the Kiwi defense open at will.
Max Crocombe made five saves and still picked the ball out of his net five times, which tells you how relentless the pressure was. New Zealand grabbed a consolation to avoid the clean sheet, but this was a no-contest from start to finish.