In a pulsating game of football, red devils Belgium, overcame the spirited Asian Samurai Japan 3-2, to reach the quarter-finals. Belgium became the first side the recover from a two goal deficit in a World Cup knock out match, since Germany beat England 3-2 at Mexico in 1970.
Belgium had come into this tournament, touted as the 'dark horse', with a team bulging with talent, naming them as 'the Golden Generation' of players - almost everyone expected them to steamroll past minnows Japan, who had benefited from the first ever fair play rules to sneak into the knock out stage. But the game started in even keel, as Japan defended stubbornly against a swarming bunch of Belgian red jerseys & also looked for the occasional counter raids. After a barren first half, it was Japan who opened the account early after the break. Off a defensive lapse by Vertonghen, failing to cut out a Shibasaki through ball, midfielder Haraguchi latched on & drove into the far corner past goalkeeper Courtois, 1-0. Belgium looked stunned, at this reversal, & the Japanese Samurai took absolute advantage of this & Takashi Inui doubled the lead within another four minutes. Kagawa collected the ball at the edge of the box & poked it to Inui, who thundered past a hapless Courtois into the bottom right hand corner, 2-0. The much fancied Belgium, now staring at a possible upset exit, & with nothing to lose from here, started to work back on recovery. Coach Roberto Martinez, playing 3-4-2-1 formation, made double substitutions, with towering Fellaini coming in for Mertens & Nacer Chadli coming in for Carrasco - this proved to be a tactical masterpiece.
First Vertonghen came up with a looping header that floated past the Japanese keeper Kawashima into the net & brought the distraught Belgians right back into the game. Minutes later, Fellaini rose above his diminutive opponents to unleash a powerful header off a delectable cross from Hazard, to make it 2-2. This time it was Japanese Coach Akira Nishino's turn to make a tactical move, & he too instructed a double change, bringing in Yamaguchi in place of Shibasaki & veteran Keisuke Honda in place of Haraguchi.
The game in the last ten minutes fluctuated wild with tension, as the ball raced from one end to the other, with both teams pressing hard for victory. Courtois stitched two beautiful saves to deny Japan, & then in stoppage time, initiated a counter attack, by laying the ball to De Bruyne, who cleared the midfield before passing onto Meunier to his right. Menuier in turn sent in a beautiful cross to the burly striker Lukaku, who essayed a cool dummy by allowing the ball to roll through his legs onto the path of an unmarked Chadli for a simple winning tap into the net. The distraught Japanese unit, unable to comprehend what transpired over the last few seconds, looked in agony, as the red hot Belgians tasted ecstasy.
It was a fantastic game of football, worth every minute, & the Japanese can go home, with their head held high.
Belgium, now face Brazil, in the QF, in what can be the defining game of this World Cup.
Belgium had come into this tournament, touted as the 'dark horse', with a team bulging with talent, naming them as 'the Golden Generation' of players - almost everyone expected them to steamroll past minnows Japan, who had benefited from the first ever fair play rules to sneak into the knock out stage. But the game started in even keel, as Japan defended stubbornly against a swarming bunch of Belgian red jerseys & also looked for the occasional counter raids. After a barren first half, it was Japan who opened the account early after the break. Off a defensive lapse by Vertonghen, failing to cut out a Shibasaki through ball, midfielder Haraguchi latched on & drove into the far corner past goalkeeper Courtois, 1-0. Belgium looked stunned, at this reversal, & the Japanese Samurai took absolute advantage of this & Takashi Inui doubled the lead within another four minutes. Kagawa collected the ball at the edge of the box & poked it to Inui, who thundered past a hapless Courtois into the bottom right hand corner, 2-0. The much fancied Belgium, now staring at a possible upset exit, & with nothing to lose from here, started to work back on recovery. Coach Roberto Martinez, playing 3-4-2-1 formation, made double substitutions, with towering Fellaini coming in for Mertens & Nacer Chadli coming in for Carrasco - this proved to be a tactical masterpiece.
First Vertonghen came up with a looping header that floated past the Japanese keeper Kawashima into the net & brought the distraught Belgians right back into the game. Minutes later, Fellaini rose above his diminutive opponents to unleash a powerful header off a delectable cross from Hazard, to make it 2-2. This time it was Japanese Coach Akira Nishino's turn to make a tactical move, & he too instructed a double change, bringing in Yamaguchi in place of Shibasaki & veteran Keisuke Honda in place of Haraguchi.
The game in the last ten minutes fluctuated wild with tension, as the ball raced from one end to the other, with both teams pressing hard for victory. Courtois stitched two beautiful saves to deny Japan, & then in stoppage time, initiated a counter attack, by laying the ball to De Bruyne, who cleared the midfield before passing onto Meunier to his right. Menuier in turn sent in a beautiful cross to the burly striker Lukaku, who essayed a cool dummy by allowing the ball to roll through his legs onto the path of an unmarked Chadli for a simple winning tap into the net. The distraught Japanese unit, unable to comprehend what transpired over the last few seconds, looked in agony, as the red hot Belgians tasted ecstasy.
It was a fantastic game of football, worth every minute, & the Japanese can go home, with their head held high.
Belgium, now face Brazil, in the QF, in what can be the defining game of this World Cup.
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