The World Cup 2018 was minutes away from witnessing another upset, rather another victory of an underdog, of David over Goliath, but Japan ran out of time and Nacer Chadli scored the winner as Belgium progressed into the quarterfinals defeating ‘Samurai Blue’ in a 3-2 thriller at the Rsotov Arena on Monday.
It was poised to move into extra-time, but Japan in its search for a winner over-committed men upfront for the final set-piece and from what could have been a Japanese winning goal, Belgium scored the winner. It came from their first potential attack in the 94th minute and after Keisuke Honda’s free-kick was kept out by a full-stretched Thibaut Courtois.
The resulting corner was at straight at Courtois, who laid the ball for Kevin de Bruyne and in a matter of seconds, De Bruyne had found Thomas Meunier on the right, to Romelu Lukaku’s beackheel to Chadli, who tapped past Eiji Kawashima.
It was a thrilling end to a thriller. Belgium in the quarterfinals against Brazil, while Japan were punished for unnecessarily committing more men forward outrun by Belgium’s size and strength and in the end by their speed and sizzle.
But Japan would take heart from the game, after nearly sending Belgium home with their perfect placement game and although the Japanese manger remains winless they he would certainly be proud of his boys.
Japan dominated for most parts of the match but failed to cream the final ball with Belgium facing the same problem as both sides went into the breakdown without a goal. The ‘Red Devils‘ were in particular complecent with themselves and could have very well ended their journey , just like it did to Spain who passed and passed the ball around but failed to make any impact.
Then suddenly just two minutes into the second-half, Japan scored. Jan Vertonghen’s mistake with a fraction of second changed direction and after Takashi Inui slipped in a lovely ball to find Genki Haraguchi who faked Courtois out before sticking it beyond the Belgian and setting this wild World Cup on course for its latest upset.
Within a minute of scoring Japan once again played to the demands but were soon left scratching their head as Hazard clattered against the post. But they bounced back in style when Inui found the target unopposed and without falling to a foul from outside the box.
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With the game going out of their hands, coachaz Roberto Martinez played in double substitutions and incidently both scored on the night. The first goal however was undeservedly let out by goalkeeper Kawashima who miss-hit a punch from which the ball balloned high.
Then using their supreme ariel reach, Belgium started their comeback, to remain at the World Cup and they found some hope when Vertonghen had his redemption, heading the long ball high and soaring into goal in the 69th minute.
Five minutes later Marouane Fellaini got to the end of a superb Hazard cross and soon from being 0-2 down in the 52nd minute, Belgium had truly bounced back into the World Cup