Group H favourites Belgium came from behind to beat Algeria 2-1 at the Estadio Minerao in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday.
Marouane Fellaini’s 70th minute header cancelled out a first half penalty from Sofiane Feghouli, before Dries Mertens smashed home the winner 10 minutes later.
The Red Devils might have expected an easier ride, but Algeria, who started with star striker Islam Slimani on the bench, played an efficient brand of counter attacking football.
The game started slowly, and the Fennec Foxes’ had the first chance, although Riyad Mahrez blasted wide after battling with Daniel Van Buyten in the 18th minute.
Up the other end Axel Witsel flashed a shot straight at Rais M’Bolhi, but Belgium were struggling to find space in the Algerian half.
Then in the 24th minute Jan Vertonghen pulled Sofiane Feghouli back in the area, and referee Marco Rodriguez awarded Algeria a penalty, which Feghouli calmly slotted past Courtois to give the Africans a shock lead.
Belgium’s response was tame, with Marc Wilmots’ side restricted to efforts from distance. In the 34th minute, Witsel was again the man to try his luck, but M’Bolhi was on hand to palm the ball away.
Four minutes later, after a foul on Toby Alderweireld, Belgium were given a promising free kick. However Vertonghen arrowed the ball wildly over the bar, summing up the Red Devils’ first half struggles.
In the second half Napoli’s Mertens replaced Nacer Chadli for Belgium, and the 27-year-old made an instant impact by swinging a 50th minute corner on to the head of Witsel.
The Zenit St Petersburg midfielder could not convert though, and Algeria then threatened from their own corner, as Carl Medjani flicked a header across goal.
In the 66th minute another Belgian substitute, Divock Origi, spurned a good chance, but moments later the Red Devils finally found a breakthrough.
It came through Fellaini – their third replacement – as the Manchester United midfielder was strong enough to beat Rafik Halliche in the air, and glance home Kevin De Bruyne’s cross.
Then on the 80 minute mark, with Algeria opened up, Eden Hazard found Mertens on the counter, and the forward scored his fourth international goal to earn Belgium maximum points.
