DOHA
\nMichy Batshuayi\u2019s first-half goal proved enough for a below-par Belgium to squeeze to a 1-0 win over a Canada side playing their first World Cup match for 36 years on Wednesday.
\nBelgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved Alphonso Davies\u2019 early penalty and Batshuayi opened the scoring against the run of play in the 44th minute.
\nJohn Herdman\u2019s Canada, roared on by their vocal support, also had another strong penalty appeal turned down and dominated the second half to no avail.
\nBelgium were without injured record goalscorer Romelu Lukaku and struggled throughout with the pace of Canada\u2019s forwards.
\nBut the 2018 semi-finalists clung on to move top of what could prove a hotly-contested Group F after Croatia and Morocco\u2019s goalless draw earlier on Wednesday.
\n\u201cWas it technically our \u2018worst game\u2019, yes, when you measure the performance,\u201d admitted Belgium coach Roberto Martinez. \u201cWas it the \u2018worst game\u2019, no, because we won.
\n\u201cWe defended well and we needed our goalkeeper.\u201d
\nCanada will head into their game against Croatia on Sunday still full of confidence after more than matching the team ranked second in the world, who next face Morocco.
\n\u201cThey showed tonight that they do belong here. It\u2019s been a long time since we\u2019ve been back,\u201d said Herdman, the first coach to lead teams at women\u2019s and men\u2019s World Cups.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sure they (the fans) walked away proud and feeling like we are a football nation.
\n\u201cI think this group stage is wide open now after the Croatia-Morocco result.\u201d
\nThe North Americans, matching Belgium in formation by playing three at the back, made a bright start and Jonathan David\u2019s low effort was deflected wide.
\nFrom the resulting corner, Tajon Buchanan\u2019s strike was blocked by Yannick Carrasco with his arm and a penalty was awarded after a VAR check in the 11th minute.
\nBut Davies produced a weak effort which was saved low to his right by Courtois, before David lashed the rebound over the crossbar.
\nBelgium\u2019s ageing defence were struggling with the pace of the Canada attackers and Junior Hoilett got in behind before firing a shot wide.
\nThe underdogs kept coming, as Courtois palmed away right wing-back Alistair Johnston\u2019s fierce drive and David headed off target.
\nVAR controversy
\nCanada had a big penalty appeal turned down despite a VAR review when Axel Witsel was outpaced by Richie Laryea inside the area and then tripped his opponent.
\nBelgium grabbed the lead out of nothing when a simple long ball over the top from Toby Alderweireld found the run of Batshuayi who hammered home left-footed.
\nThere was still time for Canada to create, and waste, another glorious opportunity before the break, as Laryea\u2019s low cross was fired over on the slide by Buchanan from six yards out.
\nMartinez made a double substitution at half-time to try and stem the tide, with Thomas Meunier replacing Carrasco and Everton youngster Amadou Onana coming into the midfield.
\nCanada could have levelled just minutes after the restart, though, as David headed wide from Stephen Eustaquio\u2019s delicious cross after the Porto midfielder had nutmegged Kevin De Bruyne.
\nHerdman\u2019s men continued to flood forward, but could not find the finishing touch required, with Buchanan miskicking horribly from the edge of the box.
\nThe more men Canada committed, the more dangerous Belgium looked on the break and Laryea made a wonderful last-ditch tackle to deny Batshuayi a second goal.
\nSubstitute Cyle Larin, the top scorer in CONCACAF qualifying for the tournament, headed too close to Courtois in a frantic finale.
\nDe Bruyne could have put the game to bed but blazed into the crowd, while Larin sent another header spinning over Courtois\u2019 bar as Belgium fell over the line.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DOHA Michy Batshuayi\u2019s first-half goal proved enough for a below-par Belgium to squeeze to a 1-0 win over a Canada side playing their first World Cup match for 36 years on Wednesday. Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved Alphonso Davies\u2019 early penalty and Batshuayi opened the scoring against the run of play in the 44th minute. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":297278,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[11549,1317,8788,11541,382],"class_list":{"0":"post-297254","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-batshuayi","9":"tag-belgium","10":"tag-canada","11":"tag-leadpakistan","12":"tag-world-cup"},"yoast_head":"\n