Friday , March 29 2024

2018 FIFA World Cup – PQF: Belgium score 3-2 comeback win over Japan!

The 2018 FIFA World Cup continued on Monday, July 2 evening with Belgium having to dip deep to come back from 0-2 down to beat Japan 3-2 in the last second of the game at the Rostov Arena.

After half chances at both ends, Belgium started to control proceedings and they had their chances to Lukaku, Hazard, Kompany and Witsel, but the first half ended goalless.

The second session would a cracker of a game, Japan took a surprise 48th minute lead as Shibasaki found Haraguchi on the right as Vertonghen failed to clear and the Bundesliga winger scored long past Courtois.

Belgium’s answer was a Eden Hazad attempt which hit the post, but Japan scored in the 52nd minute again. This time Kagawa found Inui on the left, who cut in and curled once again one in, Japan were leading 2-0.

Sadly for Japan the match was far from over and they were a part of an open encounter, but Belgium after the initial shock increased the pressure and got a bizarre goal in the 69th minute as Vertonghen headed in from the left, a very unusual position to try such an attempt after Japan was unable to clear.

Belgium further upped the pressure and equalised in the 74th minute as Fellaini headed in a Hazard cross.

It was now an open game with chances at both ends, but with the better end for Belgium, then following a Japan corner in the fourth minute of added time, keeper Courtois found Kevin de Bruyne and the midfielder pushed forward, played wide to Meunier and his ball was pushed in by Nacer Chadli to the joy of the Belgians and to the shock of the Japanese as the Europeans scored a memorable 3-2 comeback win.

FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 – Pre-Quarterfinal

Belgium 3-2 (0-0) Japan

Goals: 0-1 Genki Haraguchi (48′), 0-2 Takashi Inui (52′), 1-2 Jan Vertonghen (69′), 2-2 Marouane Fellaini (74′), 3-2 Nacer Chadli (90’+4)

Belgium: Courtois – Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen – Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Carrasco (65′ Chadli) – Mertens (65′ Fellaini), E. Hazard – R. Lukaku
Subs: Casteels, Mignolet, Boyata, Vermaelen, Dembelé, Dendoncker, Tielemans, Batshuayi, T. Hazard, Januzaj

Japan: Kawashima – H. Sakai, Yoshida, Shoji, Nagatomo – Hasebe, Shibasaki (81′ Yamaguchi)- Haraguchi (81′ Honda), Kagawa, Inui – Osako
Subs: Higashiguchi, Nakamura, W. Endo, Makino, G. Sakai, Ueda, Oshima, Usami, Muto, Okazaki

Referee: Malang Diedhiou (Senegal)

Man of the Match: Eden Hazard (Belgium)

About Arunava Chaudhuri

Check Also

arunfoot/SportsKhabri: Candid Football Conversations #193 India 1-2 Afghanistan review!

Candid Football Conversations returns with the latest after India’s 1-2 loss to Afghanistan in the …