A last-minute goal by Nacer Chadli gave Belgium a 3-2 victory on Monday in what is the greatest World Cup comeback in 52 years.
It was the first time 1966 that a team has managed to fight back from two goals down and prevail in a knockout match in regulation time.
After a goalless first half in Rostov, Monday’s last 16 tie sparked into life after the break.
Goals from Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui gave Japan a seemingly commanding 2-0 lead, as Belgium’s World Cup chances appeared to evaporate.
Coach Roberto Martinez shuffled his deck, however, and after a freak goal from Jan Vertonghen, substitute Marouane Fellaini stepped up with a header to level the tie.
And in the final seconds, a slick counter from the Red Devils ended with Chadli, also a substitute, slotting home into the net to book a quarter-final meeting with Brazil.
Not only are Belgium through to the next round, but they have done so with the best comeback in a World Cup knockout round for more than half a century.
Not since Portugal in 1966 has a team come back from two goals down to win a game in the final phases; Eusebio’s men on that occasion recovering to defeat North Korea in the quarter-final stage.
1966 – Belgium are the first team to come from 2+ goals down to win a World Cup knockout round match within 90 minutes since Portugal beat DPR Korea 5-3 in the 1966 quarter-final. Eusebio. #BEL #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/JcyWzi6l8F
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 2, 2018
West Germany did rally after trailing England 2-0 in 1970, but required extra-time to knock out the Three Lions.
Belgium, moreover, did so with two goals from substitutes, the first time this has ever occurred in World Cup history.
