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Everything You Need to Know About Day 18 of the World Cup
July 2, 2018
Brazil are into the quarter-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a 2-0 win over Mexico on Monday. Goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino gave Tite's men the win as El Tri are knocked out.
The Selecao will now face Belgium in the last eight of the tournament with the two teams set to clash at the Rostov Arena in Monday's second match.
The Red Devils battled back from two goals down to beat Japan 3-2 in yet another sensational match in Russia.
Results
Brazil 2-0 Mexico
Belgium 3-2 Japan
Brazil 2-0 Mexico
Mexico started the game brightly and looked to attack down the Brazil flanks with Andres Guardado and Hirving Lozano taking on full-backs Fagner and Felipe Luis.
However, clear-cut chances were at a premium for both sides in an absorbing and hard-fought first half. The action ramped up after the break as Neymar fired the Selecao ahead after 51 minutes.
Neymar backheeled the ball to Willian who burst into the penalty area and drilled in a low cross which the Paris Saint-Germain star managed to convert from close range.
Spanish football journalist David Cartlidge was impressed with the goal:
Mexico tried to respond but found it tough going against an organised Brazil defence and needed goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa to keep them in the game as he made several saves.
Brazil eventually made the game safe on 88 minutes as Neymar crossed for substitute Roberto Firmino to poke home from close range.
Journalist Fernando Duarte was impressed with Neymar's display:
Neymar seems to be growing into the tournament as Brazil increasingly look the team to beat. The Selecao have a superb defence which has conceded just once in Russia, and the flair in attack to cause defences all sorts of problems.
Belgium 3-2 Japan
The Samurai Blue stunned the Red Devils early in the second half, as they scored twice in four minutes through Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui.
The former rifled home into the corner after picking up the ball on the right, while Inui beat Thibaut Courtois with a dipping drive from 20 yards to defy expectations that they'd struggle here:
Belgium benefited from some good fortune when Jan Vertonghen's looping header crept in at the back post, though, sparking a remarkable comeback from Roberto Martinez's side.
The Spaniard threw on Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli to help, and the substitutions proved to be a stroke of genius:
Fellaini powered a header past Eiji Kawashima after being picked out by Eden Hazard, while Chadli completed the comeback in dramatic fashion as he tapped home with mere seconds remaining following a late break.