Day 11 of the World Cup. Just short of heaven.
Here’s how it all shook out:
Belgium 1-0 Russia | Full Recap
Russia took it to Belgium for large stretches of this one but couldn’t ever capitalize, paying the price when Divock Origi scored in the 88th minute to give Belgium a 1-0 lead.
The result clinched a spot in the Knockout Round for Belgium. The Red Devils will secure a first place finish in Group H with a tie or win against South Korea in their Group Stage finale next Thursday. Russia has some serious work to do if they’re to get out of the group; they’ll need to beat Algeria on Thursday in their Group H finale and hope South Korea either loses or ties or wins and fails to make up goal difference on Russia.
Algeria 4-2 South Korea | Full Recap
Algeria put the hurt on South Korea in this one, racing out to a 3-0 first half lead en route to a 4-2 thrashing of the Asian side in Group H play.
Islam Slimani was the star for the Desert Foxes, scoring and adding an assist to propel the African nation to victory. Slimani opened the scoring in the 26th minute, starting a first half fury that saw Algeria score a second in the 28th and a third in the 38th.
South Korea made it briefly interesting at the start of the second half, scoring in the 50th minute to make it 3-1. But Algeria put things definitively out of reach in the 62nd, when Yacine Brahimi scored to make it 4-1 to the Foxes. Korea pulled a consolation goal back in the 72nd to make it 4-2.
Algeria now sits in a good position to advance out of Group H, currently in second place in the group with three points. They need only a result against Russia on Thursday in order to qualify for the Knockout Stage. Korea is in a much more dire position, needing a win over group leaders Belgium and some help from Russia and Algeria in order to move onto the tournament’s next phase.
Portugal 2-2 US | Full Recap
We wrote about this one at length here, so we’ll spare you another rehashing.
Of note for RSL fans: Kyle Beckerman started and put in another great full 90 for the Americans in this one.
