Belgium erased a two-goal defecit in the second half, completing a stunning comeback to beat Japan 3-2 in their Round of 16 clash at the World Cup in the first round of elimination play.
Belgium came into the match as an overwhelming favorite to move into the quarterfinal, but it was Japan that created the majority of the chances in the first half, which ended scoreless.
Belgium Survives with Frantic Comeback
The Japanese side came out on fire early in the second half. After Genki Haraguchi opened the scoring in the 48th minute, Takashi Inui added a second goal four minutes later on a well-hit strike from 20 yards out that knuckled past Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Coutois.
When Belgium then failed to get a goal back in the next 15 minutes, it began to look like this might be Japan’s night. But Jan Vertonghen finally broke through just under 70 minutes in, as a header that was likely meant to be played as a pass instead snuck under the crossbar near the far post over the head of Japanese keeper Eiji Kawashima.
Five minutes later, substitute Marouane Fellaini rose above Japan’s back line to head in a cross from Eden Hazard to tie the match at two. Knowing the next goal would likely decide the winner, both goalkeepers stepped up their game, exchanging world-class saves to keep the score tied.
But just when it looked like the match would go to extra time, Coutois collected a corner and quickly distributed the ball on the counter. Belgium broke out with numbers, and about 10 seconds later, Nacer Chadli slotted in the winning goal in what would be the last action of the match.
Neymar Center of Attention as Brazil Advances
In Monday’s other World Cup match, Neymar provided both highlights and lowlights in Brazil’s comfortable 2-0 victory over Mexico. Neymar scored on a 51st-minute tap in, then assisted on the insurance goal by Roberto Firmino in the 88th minute, putting in a performance worthy of one of the world’s greatest players.
But his acting performance didn’t sit well with many who watched the performance. With about 20 minutes remaining in the game, Neymar went down while chasing a ball out of play. Mexico’s Miguel Layun walked over to grab the ball in an effort to speed up play, and stepped – intentionally or not – on the Brazilian’s ankle.
Neymar followed that up by writhing around on the ground in pain for minutes in what looked like an amateurish acting job. Sure enough, when play eventually resumed without a card for Layun, Neymar was immediately able to start jogging again.
Mexican manager Juan Carlos Osorio took particular offense to Neymar’s actions.
“Unfortunately, and it is a shame for football, we wasted a lot of time because of one player,” Osorio told reporters after the match. “It is a shame for all the people watching. There shouldn’t be acting. I think this had an impact on our pace and style.”
Neymar gave a defense based on Layun’s actions, which many did believe deserved a card.
“They stepped on me, that wasn’t fair. You can’t do that,” he told TV Globo. “They talked a lot but now they’re going home.”
The results leave Brazil as the 11/4 favorite to win the World Cup according to Paddy Power. Belgium (11/2) improved to third choice despite their struggles against Japan.
Those odds might be even better if it weren’t for the fact that Brazil and Belgium will face each other in the quarterfinals on Friday. Brazil has been made the early 1/2 favorite to go through to the semifinals, but can expect a stiff challenge from the Belgians (31/20). The side that advances out of that match will face the winner of the Uruguay-France game in the semifinals.