Belgium vs Japan LIVE World Cup 2018: Goals, updates and reaction from a thriller in Rostov
Follow all the action from the last-16 clash in Rostov
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Belgium eventually eased their way past Panama then made light work against Tunisia in their opening group games. They qualified as Group G winners after beating England 1-0 in a game they made wholesale changes for.
Japan secured qualification from their group in the most extraordinary manner. They were level on points, goal difference and head-to-head record with Senegal who were in the last ten minutes of their game against Colombia. Those standings remained the same and Japan edge through as Group H runners up due to picking up less yellow cards than Senegal.
The sides met in a friendly match in November 2017 where Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal of the game.
Follow all the action in the live blog below
What time is it?
Belgium vs Japan kicks off at 19:00 at the Rostov Arena.
Where can I watch it?
BBC will be showing live coverage on BBC1 and online on the BBC Sport website
Odds
Belgium: 2/5
Japan: 9/1
Draw (90 minutes): 7/2
Prediction
Belgium 2-0 Japan. Japan have been extremely well drilled in their group games but are unlikely to have the individual quality to cope with Belgium’s impressive playmakers and forwards.
67 mins: Japan a corner, they take it short, but the eventual cross is too deep
69 mins: Brilliant defending from Yoshida to deny Lukaku a shot at goal. Japan are throwing the kitchen sink at Belgium to try and stop them
68 mins: GOAL! Belgium 1-2 Japan (Jan Vertonghen)
What a header. That's amongst the best headers you will ever see, Vertonghen looped a header perfectly into the top corner, and Belgium are back in this!
74 mins: GOAL! Belgium 2-2 Japan (Marouane Fellaini)
Long ball to Fellaini did I hear you say? Well it's close enough, a brilliant delivery from Hazard, and Fellaini never looked like missing with his header.
77 mins: After the last 10 minutes it's looking likely Belgium will find a winner. But if they do Japan can be proud of their efforts. They continue to drive forward at every opportunity to try and prevent Belgium from going up the other end to score.
This is certainly making up for a dull first half
84 mins: Japan have a corner following a deflected Honda shot, but they go short and the chance is wasted again
86 mins: Double save from Kawashima first from Chadli and then Lukaku! They are hanging on in there
90 mins: We may be heading to extra time after all of the Belgium pressure...but before that we have 4 minutes of added time and a Japanese corner
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