Belgium's chaotic comeback eliminates Japan

Belgium wasn't about to add its name to the list of 2018 World Cup upsets.

After going down 2-0 to Japan in the 52nd minute, Roberto Martinez's men clawed back just in time to save their tournament hopes Monday, with Jan Vertonghen, Marouane Fellaini, and Nacer Chadli - the latter two coming on as substitutes - all scoring to cap an incredible comeback and send the Red Devils into the quarter-finals.

Takashi Inui's stunner appeared set to eliminate Belgium, but after Fellaini's 74th-minute header brought the Europeans even, Chadli secured the once-improbable win with the very last kick of the game: a tap-in to finish off a superb Belgium counter-attack following a Japan corner-kick.

Vertonghen jump-started his side's comeback in the 69th minute, connecting on a mesmerising, looping header from the edge of the box that caught 'keeper Eiji Kawashima off his line and restored Belgium's confidence.

The win sets up a quarter-final between Belgium and Brazil, which defeated Mexico 2-0 earlier Monday.

Japan, meanwhile, has now failed to progress further than the round of 16 in all six of its World Cup appearances. The heartbreaking defeat also marks the first time a team with a two-goal lead in a World Cup knockout match has lost in normal time since 1966, when Eusebio rallied Portugal from 3-0 down to defeat North Korea.