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
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
There is a camera angle showing Lukaku's run, he makes two zig zags up the field drawing two different defenders which allowed both players Meunier and Chadli space and time. It was a great run
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Also Lukaku initial run in that move beautifully opened up the right wing . Some of the best assist for a goal by Lukaku , without getting a touch Redemption for 2 early headers that he missed .
MQ
Guest
Having a look at the replay of goals 2 and 3 for Belgium. What I don't like: Fellaini equalises, and then runs straight past Hazard without acknowledging his beaufitully weighted cross, and he had to make his own space to put it in. What I do like: 3rd goal is as lightning quick as they come, probably won't see anything as quick for the remainder of the tournament, good release, good run through the middle, nicely weighted and directed pass out wide, first time cross into the hot spot, but the highlight is not the finish, it's Lukaku's dummy - that's the goal right there - very rare for a striker to ignore his instinct to go for it and also have the quick thinking to know what's happening behind him and know it's an almost guaranteed goal if he focuses on letting the ball run, with a split second to size it all up, he not only dragged the defender with him, the keeper moved a step in his direction, and that guaranteed the goal.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Sad to see the last Asian team to go. Considering everyone wrote off Japan, (even many in Japan) they did well, but going down after leading 2-0 will haunt them I suspect. But they did themselves, Japan and AFC proud. Love the photos on social media of their dressing room after the game, spotless with a little thank you note in Russian. Also their fans cleaning their area before leaving the stadium. But Belgium role on and that makes me very happy
Albo
Guest
Yep ! I originally liked Belgium as good chance to take the WC , with the great attacking options of Lukaku, De Bruyen , Hazard, Januzaj & Fellaini. But then I realised they had an awfully dodgy defence, including the likes of Jan Vertonghen, and furthermore they then made the mistake of topping their group and getting into the tough side of the draw. Unless Vertonghen and Co can physically take out the likes of Mbappe & Neymar, I can see Belgium chasing lots of goals just to stay on par.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
I think japan were too weary and knew they would not last in extra time imo
MQ
Guest
It should always remain part of the armoury (although it would be less successful with a 5ft nothing Nabbout up front). But I recall one Asian Cup a while back, when we had an easy 4-0 win against Thailand, and Les Murray was scathing about the Socceroos using their brute strength to beat up on the supposedly more "technical" Thai, and there is a certain category of socceroo fan who would jump on that bandwagon as well. To my eyes, you get a 4-0 win, take it without complaint, it's not as if you've just fallen in over the line against a superior opponent. We also recall some of the criticism directed at Pim, when in fact we qualified for the WC mid way through the qualifiers.
User
Roar Rookie
Wife and I are speechless at that finish, fantastic match.
RandyM
Guest
yeah the Belgium defense was quite poor at times. Someone like Mbappe/Neymar will get in behind them constantly. Inspired substitutions by the coach though, it pretty much turned the game around for them.
AGO74
Guest
Even worse than their capitulation in Kaiserslautern. Far worse. What a match. Wow.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
I can't believe Japan chose to put that last corner into the box, should of kept possession and took their chances with extra time.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Great game Interesting to see that Belgium got themselves back into the game by playing aerial to the big guys Fellaini and Lukaku in the box . The last goal was super, the 2 runs made by Lukaku off the ball set up the passing lane which led to chadli goal . Only a minute before Honda had produced a helluva dipping swerving free kick . Shame there had to be a loser Belgium are a good team , but they can’t defend . Will that cost Belgium against Brazil
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Well, at least the World knows Asian football isn't boring. It may take me a while for the heart rate to come down.
parkhacker
Roar Rookie
Well done Belgium you deserved to win this match fought all the way to the end and stopped match going into extra time.Good to see Australias traditonal asian rival Japan now packing their bags and flying back to TokyoS on the first avilable flight.
Cool and Cold
Guest
Socceroos should play more high balls in the coming Asian Cup.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Commiserations Samurai Blue. Which the Socceroos played like them.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Only Japan could lose a game in that manner. Unbelievable.
MQ
Guest
Arguably, Japan's naivety helped make it one of the all time great WC games. Well done both teams, fantastic game to watch. Belgium the first team to come back from 2-nil down to win since West Germany did it against England in 1970 (of course West Germany came back from 3-1 down against France in a SF in 1982, winning via pens). Also pleasing that both games last night were decided on the pitch.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Poor old Mike Tuckerman - an Australian supporters who’s second team is Japan. That was cruel. Japan though being very naive at the end there though; but gutted though they were they did themselves and the AFC proud ?