Belgium beats Japan 3-2, will meet Brazil in quarter-finals

Belgium rallies past Japan in 3-2 thriller, first time since 1970 a team has come from two goals down to win a WorldCup knockout match.

Belgium fight back from 2-0 down to beat Japan and reach quarter-finals where they will face Brazil who defeated Mexico earlier in the day.

Substitute Marouane Fellaini climbs highest to head in an equaliser for Belgium. What a second half it's been... 2-2 with 15 minutes to go with neither side holding back.


Jan Vertonghen's magnificent looping header pulls one back for Belgium and it's 2-1 to Japan.

Earlier, Takashi Inui curls in a magnificent second and Japan lead Belgium 2-0, a first ever World Cup knockout win and quarter-final against Brazil beckon.

It was less than three minutes into the second half and Japan have taken a shock lead against Belgium.


Japan were holding Belgium 0-0 at halftime in their Round of 16 tie on Monday, though barring a couple of half-chances for the Japanese it was the Belgians who had the pressure but failed to turn that into goals.

Having rested most of their best players for the 1-0 win over England in their final group game on Thursday, Belgium’s first-choice team, including Vincent Kompany back from injury in the center of defense, sent too many passes astray.

Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku failed to react in time when Kompany flicked the ball toward him on the half-hour. However, just before the halftime whistle, Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois was nearly embarrassed as the ball squirmed through his hands before he managed to smother it.