Belgium dig deep to edge out Japan

• Belgium are the first team in 48 years to come back from 0-2 in a World Cup knockout match
• Japan fell at the Round of 16 for the third time
  

Belgium’s team of stars demonstrated their strength of character by coming back from two goals down to claim victory over Japan in a wild game at the Rostov Arena. The manner of the win will surely fill the side with confidence as they now advance to the quarter-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ where they will face none other than Brazil.

Following a tight first half in which both defences had the upper hand, barring the odd minor lapse in concentration, Japan took a commanding lead with two goals at the start of the second half. Genki Haraguchi put the Blues ahead with an angled finish in the 48th minute, before Takashi Inui fired in a wonderful long-range strike for his second goal of the tournament.

Nobody doubted the ability of Roberto Martinez’s side, but here was a true test of their resolve. After a frantic few minutes, the manager opted for a change in approach with the introduction of the 6'4" danger man Marouane Fellaini, and the tactical shift paid dividends. In the 69th minute, Jan Vertonghen’s looping header threw Les Diables Rouges a lifeline, before Fellaini himself headed home the equaliser five minutes later.

As the game progressed, extra time seemed an inevitability. Yet Nacer Chadli had other ideas, the substitute applying the finishing touch to a textbook counter-attack in the fourth minute of stoppage time to send the Belgium fans into delirium.

Team Reporter Analysis
Simon Massart, with Belgium
Until Verthongen’s goal, Belgium had failed to demonstrate the mental resilience demanded by this sort of match at a World Cup. But from that moment on, with the Japanese perhaps paying dearly for their earlier exertions, the Belgians upped their game. The team went through a rollercoaster of emotions, right up until the wonderful counter-attack that paved the way to victory. And then came relief.
Hidetoshi Suzuki, with Japan
It’s a very disappointing result for Japan, having gone two goals up. Everything seemed to be under control, but an error by goalkeeper Kawashima led to the first goal. From that moment on, the team lost the tempo and rhythm of the match. They quickly conceded the equaliser, before the cruellest of third goals. It's very sad, but that’s football. One mistake can change a game. The Samurai Blue must learn from this.

Budweiser Man of the Match
Although Eden Hazard was not having one of his best matches before Belgium’s first goal, the captain came good when his team needed him most and played a key role in a comeback that will stay long in the memory.


The stat
48 - It is the first time in 48 years that a team has come from 2-0 down to win a match in the knockout rounds of the World Cup. The last country to do so was West Germany, in their quarter-final against England at Mexico 1970.

What’s next
Brazil-Belgium, 6 July, Kazan