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Belgium leave it late to KO Russia

Walem is all smiles after his free-kick gives Belgium the lead

SHIZUOKA, Japan (CNN) -- Belgium scored two late goals to salvage their World Cup hopes and send Russia home with a 3-2 defeat.

Victory secured second place in Group H behind Japan, who beat Tunisia 2-0 to qualify for the last 16 for the first time.

Belgium go on to meet tournament favourites Brazil on Monday while Japan will play Turkey on Tuesday, once the nation comes down from a weekend of celebrations. (Full story)

Belgium were heading out with 12 minutes left until substitute Wesley Sonck headed in a corner to give them a 2-1 lead in Shizuoka.

The goal sent coaches and substitutes dancing onto the pitch to celebrate. And two minutes later Marc Wilmots was blowing kisses to the crowd after scoring the third.

Substitute Dmitri Sychev got one back for Russia to set up a frantic last four minutes but Belgium held on.

Belgium, needing all three points to go through, got off to a fantastic start when Johan Walem curled a free-kick into the top corner after seven minutes.

Joy on the touchline as number three goes in

They dominated the first half but failed to stretch their lead and Russia, who needed a draw, were level seven minutes after the break through Vladimir Beschastnykh.

In Moscow, extra armed police were drafted in following a riot in which two people died, triggered by Russia's defeat against Japan on Sunday. But there were no reports of trouble in the capital as dejected fans drifted away after seeing their team's defeat.

Authorities fear the hooligans could have ruined Russia's hopes of staging the 2008 European Championships.

But in Brussels joyous fans poured into the streets, taking extra satisfaction in the neighbours' misfortunes. Holland did not qualify for the World Cup while champions France failed to make the second round. (More reaction)

Belgium Geert De Vlieger; Jacky Peeters, Glen De Boeck, Daniel Van Buyten, Nico Van Kerckhoven; Gert Verheyen, Johan Walem, Yves Vanderhaeghe, Bart Goor; Marc Wilmots, Mbo Mpenza

Russia Ruslan Nigmatullin; Yuri Kovtun, Viktor Onopko, Yuri Nikiforov; Valery Karpin, Andrei Solomatin, Yegor Titov, Alexei Smertin, Dmitry Alenichev; Dmitry Khokhlov, Vladimir Beschastnykh

Referee Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark).