Belgium have qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup knockout phase by recording a narrow 1-0 victory over Russia at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
On a fine day for football, the Belgium side remained patient throughout the contest before scoring a late winner through teenage striker Divock Origi.
In a battle of attrition, caused mainly by Russia's defensive approach, Belgium managed to get their noses in front in the 88th minute when Eden Hazard produced a jinking run down the left before cutting back for Origi who fired home from close range to become the seventh-youngest scorer at a World Cup.
Early on, Belgium had looked the more threatening of the two sides with Dries Mertens and Kevin de Bruyne providing plenty of creativity but they lacked a real cutting edge in the final third.
Russia went forward on occasion and tested Thibaut Courtois in the first half with the talented gloveman forced to keep out Viktor Fayzulin's 12th-minute effort before denying Maksim Kanunnikov on the half-hour mark.
Fabio Capello's Russia should have scored in the final minute of the first half but Aleksandr Kokorin inexplicably put his unmarked header from Denis Glushakov's pinpoint cross wide of the mark with the goal agape.
Belgium's best chance, prior to the goal, came when second-half substitute Kevin Mirallas saw his bouncing free-kick hit the upright with Igor Akinfeev at bay before Hazard took it upon himself to spark the Rode Duivels.
The Chelsea ace was close to giving Belgium the lead in the 86th minute when he turned and shot from close range but his effort fizzed over the crossbar before his mazy run allowed Lille striker Origi to score one of the most significant goals of his fledgling career.
The win puts Marc Wilmots' Belgium on six points, which has them sitting atop Group H, ahead of South Korea and Russia who are both on one ahead of the Taeguk Warriors' clash with Algeria today.
Belgium next meet South Korea in Sao Paulo on June 26 while Russia will hope that the Asians draw with Algeria before looking to beat the North African in Curitiba in order to sneak through to the Round of 16.
2014 FIFA World Cup - Group H
Belgium: 1 (Divock Origi 88') Russia: 0
Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro - 73,819
Yellow cards:BEL - Axel Witsel 54', Toby Alderweireld 73' RUS - Denis Glushakov 38'
