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Belgium have valiantly defeated Japan through a stoppage time goal after it seemed that the Samurai Blue had secured their progression to the semi finals.
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Japan started off well, pressing high up the pitch and coming away with the first two chances of the game.
However it didn’t take long for Belgium to take control of the game and push forward.
Japan defended well but a patient Belgian side eventually found their way past them and came close to scoring on a number of occasions.
Japan survived wave after wave of pressure and slowly started to re-assert themselves in the game.
The Belgians continued to control the majority of the ball but Japan were giving them problems on the counter.
Japan also came closest to scoring, after Belgian keeper Thaibaut Courtois nearly produced the howler of the tournament before quickly recovering.
In the end the first half ended scoreless, but in the second half it was a different story.
A through-ball wasn’t properly dealt with by the Belgian defence, allowing Genki Haraguchi to pounce and put Japan ahead.
Eden Hazard nearly responded right way but his effort rocketing off the post.
Then just moments later Belgium were rocked to their core, as Takashi Inui found space to hit one from outside the box.
He fired his effort past the keeper to put Japan up but two and Belgium had just under 40 minutes to recover.
They tried to push forward but Japan was defending well and looking dangerous on the counter.
But with 20 minutes to go Jan Vertonghen produced a moment of magic via an astonishing header.
The keeper punched the ball away but Vertonghen stood his ground and calmly headed the ball over the keeper and into the net from a tough angle to get his side back in the game.
Then shortly after, substitute Marouane Fellaini did the job was sent on to do, getting on the end of Hazard’s cross to bring Belgium back level.
It was end-to-end football from there, with both sides pushing forward looking for a winner.
Japan came close right at the death, but they were the victims of their own attack.
In the 95th minute a Belgian counter-attack saw Chadli come on the end of some great attacking play and place the ball past the keeper to break Japanese hearts.
After an astonishing, highly entertaining game of football, Belgium came back from two goals down to win 3-2 with the final kick of the game.
Full time
Belgium 3
Japan 2
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