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Van Buyten and Belgium Victorious with 10-Men, Win Group H

The 36-year-old tames the Wookie as Belgium hold their second consecutive clean sheet

Stu Forster

Holding a ticket into the knockout stages, Daniel van Buyten came up big a third time in Belgium's 1-0 victory over South Korea.

Steven Defour was sent off in the 44th minute for a studs-up challenge, leaving Belgium with ten men for the entire second half. De Rode Duivels conceded most of the ball in the second half, Marc Wilmots relying on his defense to keep South Korea off of the score sheet.

With Marouane Fellaini acting as midfield cover, van Buyten was the last line of defense for Belgium, blocking four shots and clearing the ball three times. For the second time in the tournament, he won all of his aerial duels, closing off the supply to Kim Shin-Wook in the penalty area.

Wilmots made five changes to his side, including Vincent Kompany, but he left van Buyten in to make the most of the last World Cup of his career. He has started eight of the last nine games for Belgium, a good run to end his international career.

With the victory, Belgium wins Group H with 9 points, the first time they have ever won all of their group matches. Van Buyten will take on the United States in the Round of 16

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