A late Chadli goal left Japan shell-shocked as Belgium came back from two goals down to beat the Asians 3-2 in what was one of the best games of the 2018 World Cup.
In a game of contrasting halves, the second half and match came to life when Japan took the lead from Genki Haraguchi and doubled it four minutes later when Takashi Inui also found the back of the net.
But Belgium turned it around remarkably with two headers from Vertoghen and Fellaini restored parity. After that, the game became end to end stuff without neither team willing to give an inch, but looking for the final punch.
As the game looks set to be heading for extra-time, Belgium delivered the last blow. And it stunned Japan.
After Honda’s freekick was parried over for a corner, Japan threw men forward in search of the winner, in what in hindsight looked a bad decision. Courtois grabbed the ball mid-air and launched an attack instantly. Japan tried their best to get back, but the pace of the break was too much. As the ball broke to Lukaku, he let the go behind, pulling the defender with him, as the ball fell to Chadli who was unmarked, to tuck home.
Japan were shell-shocked, evidenced by the look on the face of everyone on their bench.