Belgium 3 Japan 2
Nacer Chadli scored a 94th-minute winner as Belgium stormed back to beat Japan 3-2 and set up a mouthwatering quarter-final tie against Brazil.
Roberto Martinez’s side found themselves 2-0 down when Genki Haraguchi scored in the 48th minute and Takashi Inui’s superb strike doubled Japan’s lead four minutes later.
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Martinez needed to make changes and when he brought on Marouane Fellaini and Chadli in the 65th minute the substitutes inspired a superb comeback.
Jan Vertonghen headed in four minutes after the double substitution and then Fellaini equalised in the 74th minute.
Both sides went for the victory and the winner came deep into injury-time when Belgium broke away with Kevin de Bruyne. He found Thomas Meunier on the right wing and his cross was dummied by Romelu Lukaku for Chadli to steer in the winner.
After the match Belgium boss Martinez told the BBC: “Let’s congratulate Japan, they played the perfect game. They were clinical on the counter and so solid. It was a test of character and you see the reaction of our subs coming on to win the game. It tells you everything about this group of players.
“No negatives today, it was about getting through. It is a day to be very proud of these players. Keep believing in Belgium. In the World Cup you want to be perfect but it’s about getting through, it’s about winning.”
Belgium will now face Brazil in the last-eight on Friday evening (7pm).
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