An own goal and a Romelu Lukaku strike made the difference as the Belgians finished Group B play with nine points from three games as the head to the knockout stage. Finland, who finish the group in third, must await other results to learn if they will move on to the round of 16.
Belgium piled on relentless pressure all match and Lukaku looked to have finally broke the ice in the 65th minute with a confident strike from inside the box after being picked out by smart Kevin De Bruyne through ball. But a VAR review judged the Inter Milan striker was fractionally offside before the pass and overturned the goal.
Thomas Vermaelen helped make amends nine minutes later when his header from a De Bruyne corner kicked off the crossbar, hit Finland goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky and bounced into the net for the opening score.
Lukaku, then, got his goal soon after with a tidy turn and finish after receiving a De Bruyne pass with his back to goal — the powerful striker beating Hradecky to the near post with a well-struck right-footed shot.
Follow us on:
Iran's Supreme Leader has warned the US and Israel of a "crushing response" following an…
Kemi Badenoch has pledged to "renew" the Conservative Party and reclaim voters as she was…
Peter Obi has criticised the court ruling withholding funds to Rivers State, calling it disturbing…
AGF Fagbemi has taken over the prosecution of 114 #EndBadGovernance protesters, addressing alleged treason and…
NNPC and Morocco's ONHYM has advanced the $26 billion African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, emphasising regional…
TCN has restored power on the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri line, fully operational again after vandalism halted service.