IT’S BATSMAN & ROBBING!

Michy rescue act tough on Canada

IT took the Batsman to save Belgium from being the latest big-name side to be humbled in Qatar.

Michy Batshuayi (below, celebrating) revels in a nickname similar to the Caped Crusader – and boss Roberto Martinez certainly needed him to come to his country’s rescue last night.

But to non-belgians it was Canada, with their English manager John Herdman and former Premier League starlet Junior Hoilett, who were the real heroes.

Yet it was 32-year-old Hoilett with the rest of his Canadian team-mates who put the team ranked second in the world on the back foot.

Roared on by an enthusiastic crowd, the Canadians charged forward but lacked real quality.

A hit-and-hope Tajon Buchanan shot seemed to have been blocked but then after a minute or so later VAR got involved.

Replays showed the ball had clearly struck Yannick Carrasco on the arm and referee Janny Sikazwe from Zambia was called to the monitor, pointed to the spot and another shock seemed on.

Unfortunately, Bayern Munich striker Alphonso Davies’ penalty was the first half-hearted aspect of

Canada’s performance and was easily saved by Thibaut Courtois.

The rest of the Canada players clearly felt their star player could do better and Alistair Johnston and Richie Laryea both took hopeful tumbles in the box in a bid to earn Davies a reprieve.

On the occasions they managed to break, Belgium were able to remind Canada of their class – up to a point.

Without the crocked Romelu Lukaku, Batshuayi led the line with his usual frustrating mix of wastefulness and stunning firepower.

Two good chances had gone begging before Toby Alderweireld launched a simple 44th-minute ball forward and the former Chelsea striker swept a difficult chance into the back of the net (above).

Even then there was still time in yet another long period added on for Laryea to serve up Buchanan with another chance only for the finish to again lack polish. Canada, in their first finals since 1986, did little wrong under Herdman.

And the chances kept coming, with Jonathan David heading just wide three minutes after the restart with the goal again at his mercy.

Belgium were well below par and David was a little too accurate with another free header straight at Courtois.

Martinez’s men may have wriggled off the hook this time, but with Morocco and Croatia to come, the knockout stages still seem one or two gears away.

BELGIUM: Courtois 8, Dendoncker 6, Alderweireld 7, Vertonghen 6, Castagne 5, Witsel 7, Tielemans 5 (Onana 46, 6), Carrasco 5 (Meunier 46, 6), De Bruyne 6, E Hazard 7 (Trossard 62, 6), Batshuayi 7 (Openda 78) CANADA: Borjan 6, Johnston 6 Vitoria 7, Miller 7, Laryea 6 (Adekugbe 73, 6), Hutchinson 6 (Kone 58, 6), Eustaquio 7 (Osorio 81) Davies 5, Buchanan 7 (Milla 81), Hoilett 6 (Larin 58, 6), David 7