World Cup - Late Comeback Ensures Belgium Start With Win.

Goalscorers Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens celebrate for Belgium v Algeria (Getty)

Belgium survived an almighty scare by coming up from a goal down with 20 minutes remaining to beat Algeria 2-1 in Belo Horizonte.

Algeria took a shock lead after Jan Vertonghen pulled back Sofiane Feghouli in the box, the striker getting off the deck to convert from the spot.

With Mousa Dembele, Nacer Chadli and Romelu Lukaku proving wholly ineffective in creating chances, Marc Wilmots was forced to ring the changes, bringing on Marouanne Fellaini, Dries Mertens and Divock Origi.

And the move paid off almost immediately, Fellaini rising to nod home Kevin De Brunye’s accurate cross past the resolute Rais Mbolhi.

Belgium pressed for victory and almost inevitably, Eden Hazard was the catalyst. His excellent pass across the face of goal was met by sub Mertens, who drilled home what proved the winner.
Fellaini could have had a second late on but Mbolhi denied him with another fine save.
Russia and South Korea are the other two sides in Group H, where whoever comes second looks certain to face Germany in the last-16.

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Belgium equal a national record of remaining unbeaten in 11 consecutive competitive matches set between 1978 and 1980 and equalled between 1987 and 1990.
Belgium are unbeaten in their last five opening matches at a World Cup (W3-D2). Their last opening defeat was against Mexico (2-1) in 1986.
Divock Origi (19 years and 59 days) became the youngest Belgian player at the World Cup. Emile Mpenza was 19 years and 344 days when he played in 1998.
Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens both scored as a substitute. Before today Belgium had scored only 1 goal by substitute, Wesley Sonck vs Russia in 2002 (3-2 win).
This was the first time in WC history no player in Belgium's starting XI is playing in Belgium's domestic league.
Sofiane Feghouli scored for Algeria. It is the first WC goal for Algeria since Djamel Zidane against Northern Ireland in 1986.
Nabil Bentaleb (19y-205d) became the youngest player and the first teenager to play for Algeria at the World Cup.