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World Cup

Japan shocked Belgium into action with two goals in four minutes

A cagey affair turned to brilliant World Cup chaos in the second half.

JAPAN PUT BELGIUM on the brink of a shock World Cup exit with two sensational goals in the space of four second-half minutes before the Red Devils stormed back to win a pulsating contest in regular time.

The double setback shook Roberto Martinez’ side into action and they pulled level through headers from Jan Vertonghen and Marouane Fellaini.

Belgium, dark horses for many before the tournament and now fancied to push Brazil in the quarter-finals, fell behind to Genki Haraguchi’s coolly taken 48th minute shot across Thibault Courtois.

Belgium came close to an immediate equaliser, but Eden Hazard’s strike pinged back off the post and their jeopardy was soon doubled by a sublime strike by Takashi Inui.

A looping Jan Vertonghen header pulled a goal back for Belgium to reduce the deficit and within five minutes Fellaini was celebrating an equaliser.

It took until stoppage time for Belgium to find a winner with a swift counter attack finished off by Nacer Chadli.

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