Belgium reached the World Cup knockout stages as group winners thanks to Leandro Trossard’s double in their 5-1 thrashing of New Zealand in Vancouver.
After drawing their opening two games, the Red Devils' first win of the tournament saw them top Group G on goal difference to set up a round-of-32 clash against the third-place finisher from either Group A/E/H/I/J on Wednesday at 9pm UK time in Seattle.
Belgium were utterly dominant against New Zealand as they had 35 shots against the lowest-ranked side in the competition, who have been eliminated from the World Cup after finishing bottom of the group.
Trossard grabbed Belgium's deserved breakthrough in the 28th minute with a poacher's finish at a corner.
The Arsenal forward then eventually doubled Rudi Garcia's side's lead just five minutes into the second half with a fine chest and volleyed finish.
With Egypt drawing against Iran, Kevin De Bruyne's superb low strike then put Belgium on course to win Group G, only for Motherwell's Elijah Just's 84th-minute consolation goal to momentarily push them into the runners-up spot.
But Romelu Lukaku headed in just 64 seconds after coming on to immediately restore Belgium's three-goal lead.
Fellow substitute Alexis Saelemaekers then added a stoppage-time fifth as Belgium avoided consecutive group-stage World Cup exits.
Belgium boss Rudi Garcia:
"This is what the 'oldies' did tonight. We haven't won anything yet but we moved on to the next phase. Thank goodness we had a difference of ‌four goals and that gave us the opportunity to be first of the group.
"We can't say that we are fully into it but we are growing. We're gaining momentum. We'll see against whom we will be playing in the round of 32, but we will relish this first victory.
"This [references to his squad being old] is not a source of motivation. I trust my players and that's why my team is the way it is right now.
"I fully trust my leaders and there's only one thing that we can do. It's actually happening on the pitch and so the answer happened on the pitch. I have ‌nothing else to say."
New Zealand boss Darren Bazeley:
"When you saw the draw and we knew we were playing these (Belgium) last, you probably expected them to already be on six points and that maybe could work in our favour.
"We needed to pick up our points in the first two games and we gave ourselves the opportunity to do that, and we didn't take it.
"We tried to get back in the game, we weren't going to just leave this World Cup defending a 2-0 loss, but unfortunately we got punished a few times.
"Most of these guys will be back in four years' time and they will be better for it, and they have to be better for it if we're going to get to where we all want to, which is into those knockout games.
"This is a great group of players that have got a really great future, both individually at clubs and together. They'll definitely be better for it because it'll hurt, and it should hurt because we're at a World Cup and now we're going home."
