Belgium laboured to victory in their opening World Cup game as they were pushed all the way by an outstanding effort from Canada.
Canada dominated large portions of this Group F game but were wasteful in front of goal, particularly when Alphonso Davies saw a first-half penalty saved by Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois.
Courtois also had to save well from Alistair Johnston, but Canada were undone against the run of play on the stroke of half-time when Michy Batshuayi collected Toby Alderweireld's long ball and fired a powerful left-foot finish past Milan Borjan.
Jonathan David wasted a glorious headed chance to draw Canada level and Courtois also saved from Cyle Larin. Canada were also left nursing a sense of injustice after they had two presentable penalty appeals ignored in the first half.
Canada continued to push forward in the second half but it was Roberto Martinez's side who closed out the win, despite a performance that made a mockery of their status as second in the world rankings.
"Canada deserved to be better than us in the way they played," Martinez told Match of the Day. "It's a win and we need to play better and to grow.
"This tournament is going to make you develop and grow as the tournament goes on. If you do that by winning games, it's an incredible advantage.
"Today we didn't win by our normal talent and quality on the ball, but you don't win in the World Cup if you don't do the other side of the game."
Dismal Belgium ride their luck
Belgium have Canada's poor finishing to thank for the fact they avoided the fate of Argentina and Germany in falling victim to a World Cup shock.
Martinez has presided over Belgium's so-called 'Golden Generation' but this ageing side, on the evidence of this performance, may have left their best days behind them.
Belgium still have glorious talent in the shape of Kevin de Bruyne and a world-class keeper in Courtois but they looked ragged, jaded and desperately vulnerable to the pace and energy of Canada's attacking play.
Alphonso Davies saw his penalty saved by Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the first half
The defensive duo of Alderweireld, 33, and 35-year-old Jan Vertonghen have served country and clubs outstandingly well, but there was an air of desperation about some of their play as Canada, in the first half particularly, dragged Belgium to all parts. They simply could not cope with the speed and intensity of Canada, an ominous sign for future games.
Belgium can clearly perform much better than this and have main striker Romelu Lukaku to return up front but this was a tired-looking effort and coach Martinez, who is under pressure to bring success to this group having been in charge since 2016, will simply be relieved to come out of this game with three points.
Canada show they 'can live on this stage'
Canada were roared on by thousands of fans inside Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, giving thunderous and colourful backing to John Herdman's team.
And even though their first game of this World Cup ended in defeat, Canada's supporters still gave their team a deserved standing ovation at the final whistle after a performance in which they did everything but score the goal they richly merited.
Canada were fearless from the first whistle, sensing vulnerability in Belgium's defence and the disjointed nature of Martinez's team, whose ranking means they should be among the World Cup favourites.
They had Belgium on the run but squandered their big chance when Davies' tame penalty was saved by Courtois following Yannick Carrasco's handball. It was to prove a pivotal moment.
Canada made nearly all the running and had 22 efforts on goal but only three were on target, leaving them at the mercy of one moment of quality from Belgium, which duly arrived with Batshuayi's goal.
To their great credit Canada refused to take a backward step even after this setback, but main striker David, who has earned a big reputation with Lille, could not make the most of a clear headed opening in the second half.
Canada, however, can take pride and hope from this performance. They may have lost all four World Cup games they have played without scoring a goal, but there was so much to admire about their showing here.
The Canadians are ranked 39 places below Belgium, but matched them in all areas apart from that decisive strike.
"We had an opportunity to be top of the group tonight - that was the mission and we missed it, but I'm proud of the performance," said Herdman.
"These lads put a shift in, they showed that they can live on this stage. They made the fans proud and made them feel like they belong here and that was important for us. I showed them the stats and showed them that they belong here."
- Reaction to Belgium's win over Canada Fifa World Cup: Groups & ScheduleWorld Cup TV Coverage guide
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBelgium
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Courtois19Dendoncker2Alderweireld5Vertonghen21Castagne8Tielemans6Witsel11Carrasco7De Bruyne10E Hazard23Batshuayi
- 1Courtois19Dendoncker2Alderweireld5Vertonghen21Castagne8TielemansSubstituted forOnanaat 45'minutesBooked at 56mins6Witsel11CarrascoBooked at 9minsSubstituted forMeunierat 45'minutesBooked at 53mins7De Bruyne10E HazardSubstituted forTrossardat 62'minutes23BatshuayiSubstituted forOpendaat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Theate4Faes12Mignolet13Casteels14Mertens15Meunier16T Hazard17Trossard18Onana20Vanaken22De Ketelaere24Openda25Doku26Debast
Canada
Formation 3-4-2-1
18Borjan2Johnston5Vitória4Miller22Laryea13Hutchinson7Eustáquio19Davies11Buchanan10Hoilett20David
- 18Borjan2JohnstonBooked at 83mins5Vitória4Miller22LaryeaSubstituted forAdekugbeat 74'minutes13HutchinsonSubstituted forKonéat 58'minutes7EustáquioSubstituted forOsorioat 81'minutes19DaviesBooked at 81mins11BuchananSubstituted forMillarat 81'minutes10HoilettSubstituted forLarinat 58'minutes20David
Substitutes
- 1St. Clair3Adekugbe6Piette8Fraser9Cavallini12Ugbo14Kaye15Koné16Pantemis17Larin21Osorio23Millar24Wotherspoon25Cornelius26Waterman
Referee:Janny SikazweAttendance:40,432Match StatsHome TeamBelgiumAway TeamCanadaPossessionHome54%Away46%ShotsHome9Away22Shots on TargetHome3Away3CornersHome4Away4FoulsHome11Away14Live TextPost update
Match ends, Belgium 1, Canada 0.
90'+5'Full Time
Second Half ends, Belgium 1, Canada 0.
90'+2'Post update
Attempt blocked. Cyle Larin (Canada) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
90'+1'Post update
Attempt saved. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Leandro Trossard.
90'+1'Post update
Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Steven Vitória.
90'+1'Post update
Attempt blocked. Thomas Meunier (Belgium) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a headed pass.
89'Post update
Corner, Canada. Conceded by Leander Dendoncker.
86'Post update
Attempt missed. Cyle Larin (Canada) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Samuel Adekugbe with a cross.
86'Post update
Attempt missed. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Axel Witsel.
85'Post update
Attempt missed. Leander Dendoncker (Belgium) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a cross following a set piece situation.
83'Booking
Alistair Johnston (Canada) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
83'Post update
Loïs Openda (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
83'Post update
Foul by Alistair Johnston (Canada).
82'Post update
Thomas Meunier (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82'Post update
Foul by Liam Millar (Canada).
81'Booking
Alphonso Davies (Canada) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
81'Post update
Leandro Trossard (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81'Post update
Foul by Alphonso Davies (Canada).
81'Substitution
Substitution, Canada. Jonathan Osorio replaces Stephen Eustáquio.
81'Substitution
Substitution, Canada. Liam Millar replaces Tajon Buchanan.
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Player of the match
LaryeaRichie Laryea
with an average of 8.13
- BelgiumBelgiumBelgiumCanadaCanadaCanada
BelgiumAvgSquad number1Player nameCourtoisAverage rating
6.79
Squad number17Player nameTrossardAverage rating
6.05
Squad number7Player nameDe BruyneAverage rating
5.83
Squad number10Player nameE HazardAverage rating
5.47
Squad number19Player nameDendonckerAverage rating
5.21
Squad number23Player nameBatshuayiAverage rating
5.12
Squad number2Player nameAlderweireldAverage rating
4.92
Squad number21Player nameCastagneAverage rating
4.86
Squad number8Player nameTielemansAverage rating
4.83
Squad number5Player nameVertonghenAverage rating
4.82
Squad number6Player nameWitselAverage rating
4.52
Squad number18Player nameOnanaAverage rating
4.48
Squad number11Player nameCarrascoAverage rating
4.43
Squad number15Player nameMeunierAverage rating
4.03
Squad number24Player nameOpendaAverage rating
3.94
CanadaAvgSquad number22Player nameLaryeaAverage rating
8.13
Squad number11Player nameBuchananAverage rating
8.07
Squad number4Player nameMillerAverage rating
8.00
Squad number13Player nameHutchinsonAverage rating
7.98
Squad number7Player nameEustáquioAverage rating
7.95
Squad number20Player nameDavidAverage rating
7.84
Squad number10Player nameHoilettAverage rating
7.79
Squad number2Player nameJohnstonAverage rating
7.73
Squad number5Player nameVitóriaAverage rating
7.63
Squad number23Player nameMillarAverage rating
7.58
Squad number18Player nameBorjanAverage rating
7.56
Squad number17Player nameLarinAverage rating
7.52
Squad number15Player nameKonéAverage rating
7.50
Squad number3Player nameAdekugbeAverage rating
7.42
Squad number21Player nameOsorioAverage rating
7.41
Squad number19Player nameDaviesAverage rating
7.23
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