A Nacer Chadli strike with 20 seconds left in stoppage time set up a quarter-final date for Belgium with Brazil, after the Red Devils overcome a two-goal deficit against a Japanese side who fought tooth and nail in Rostov.
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Goals for Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Iniu within six minutes of each other in the second half suggested that perhaps the biggest upset of the World Cup yet was on the cards, but Belgium showed their character by fighting back with three goals in the last 25 minutes to claim the win.
It was a hugely demoralizing climax to the game for Japan, who only qualified for the round of 16 by virtue of having a received fewer yellow cards than Senegal, the team they finished deadlocked with in Group H.
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