World Cup Player of the Day: Origi brightens up Belgium's day

The day was brightened up by Divock Origi's late strike as he Belgium into the last 16 of the World Cup.

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-PHOTOS: Origi strike sends Wilmots' men through at Maracana

The teenager struck an 88th minute winner to secure a 1-0 victory against Russia in a largely lifeless Group H match at the Maracana on Sunday.

Origi played the part of hero, coming off the bench to win it late on after great work from Eden Hazard just minutes after Kevin Mirallas crashed a free kick against the base of the Russian post to give Belgium six points from two games.

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"It was not an easy match but I think we deserved to win it," said Belgium coach Marc Wilmots.

"He's in a good space right now, he's 19-years-old," the coach added of his matchwinner.

"It was a bit of a surprise since he was an unknown before I selected him. Now everyone knows who he is."

Origi is the first teenager to score in the World Cup since Argentina's Lionel Messi in 2006 and is the youngest to find the net at these finals.

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"It was an important goal but I thought we created it as a team. I thought we showed today that we are mentally strong," Origi said, heaping praise on Hazard for creating the opportunity.

"I hung back and then he passed it to me. People will say it wasn't easy to convert but the work he did shows he is a great player."