World Cup 2018: Belgium produce masterclass to knock out Brazil with 2-1 win

Published on: 06 July 2018

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De Bruyne wonder strike doubles Belgium lead

Belgium produced a brilliant performance to knock five-time winners Brazil out of the World Cup and reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1986.

Roberto Martinez's side turned on the style in Kazan to clock up their fifth straight win of the tournament and ensure the semi-finals will be contested by four European sides for the first time.

Brazil had conceded just one goal in their past four games in Russia but were behind early when Nacer Chadli's corner struck Fernandinho's arm and flew into the net, the 10th own goal of this World Cup.

Fernandinho's Manchester City team-mate Kevin de Bruyne doubled Belgium's lead with a sublime arrowed finish from 20 yards after Romelu Lukaku's powerful run.

In an entertaining and open game, Brazil hit the post when the match was goalless - Thiago Silva missing in front of a gaping net after Neymar's corner - before substitute Renato Augusto gave Brazil hope with a headed goal after Philippe Coutinho's delicious pass.

However, the South Americans became the latest heavyweight to depart the competition after holders Germany and other past winners Argentina, Spain and Uruguay.

Impressive Belgium will now face France, 2-0 winners over Uruguay earlier on Friday, in a semi-final in St Petersburg next Tuesday, 10 July (19:00 BST).

The other semi-final in Moscow on Wednesday 11 July will be contested between the winners of Saturday's quarter-finals featuring Sweden and England (15:00 BST) and Russia and Croatia (19:00 BST).

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Golden generation finally comes of age

There is a steely determination about this Belgium side that they did not have four years ago when they narrowly lost a quarter-final to Argentina.

Eight of the starting 11 against Brazil also started that game in Brasilia in 2014 but this time there was no hard luck story for the Red Devils as they ruthlessly dispatched the most successful country in World Cup history.

Energy and belief is coursing through a Belgium team packed with Premier League winners, and many are starting to seriously ask whether this squad full of thirtysomethings is finally about to deliver.

If there was a touch of fortune about the first goal as the ball rolled off Fernandinho's arm and into the net, the second was beautifully crafted.

Lukaku has scored four times at this tournament but his run which led to De Bruyne making it 2-0 was a sight to behold, the striker receiving the ball inside his own half before turning and embarking on a superb run.

On a glorious night in Belgium football history, there was one negative as defender Thomas Meunier picked up another booking and will be suspended against France.

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World Cup 2018: Fernandinho own goal puts Belgium in front against BrazilFrom Everton sack to World Cup semi-final

In May 2016, Martinez was out of a job after being sacked by Everton. A banner saying "Time to go Roberto" was flown over Goodison just days before his dismissal.

Now the Spaniard is one win away from steering Belgium to a first ever World Cup final.

In the last 16, Martinez made two key changes as his side came from 2-0 down against Japan to win 3-2 - substitutes Marouane Fellaini and Chadli scoring the second and third goals.

He promoted Fellaini and Chadli to the starting line-up against Brazil and both played their part in what will go down as a famous Belgium win as Martinez successfully changed his system, going narrower to deny Neymar and Philippe Coutinho space.

Belgium are unbeaten in 24 games under the 44-year-old since he lost his first game in charge against Spain in September 2016.

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World Cup 2018: Renato Augusto scores with a header to pull a goal back for Brazil

More to follow.

    Line-ups Match Stats Live Text

Line-ups

Brazil

    1Alisson

    22FagnerBooked at 90mins

    2Thiago Silva

    3Miranda

    12Marcelo

    15PaulinhoSubstituted forRenato Augustoat 73'minutes

    17FernandinhoBooked at 85mins

    11Coutinho

    19WillianSubstituted forRoberto Firminoat 45'minutes

    9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forDouglas Costaat 58'minutes

    10Neymar

Substitutes

    4Geromel

    6Filipe Luís

    7Douglas Costa

    8Renato Augusto

    13Marquinhos

    16Cássio

    18Fred

    20Roberto Firmino

    21Barcellos Freda

    23Ederson

Belgium

    1Courtois

    15MeunierBooked at 71mins

    2AlderweireldBooked at 47mins

    4Kompany

    5Vertonghen

    8Fellaini

    6Witsel

    22ChadliSubstituted forVermaelenat 83'minutes

    9LukakuSubstituted forTielemansat 87'minutes

    7De Bruyne

    10E Hazard

Substitutes

    3Vermaelen

    11Carrasco

    12Mignolet

    13Casteels

    14Mertens

    16T Hazard

    17Tielemans

    18Januzaj

    19Dembélé

    20Boyata

    21Batshuayi

    23Dendoncker

Referee:

Milorad Mazic

Attendance:

42,873

Match Stats

Home TeamBrazilAway TeamBelgium

Possession

Home59%

Away41%

Shots

Home27

Away9

Shots on Target

Home9

Away3

Corners

Home8

Away4

Fouls

Home14

Away16

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Brazil 1, Belgium 2.

Full TimePosted at 90'+6'

Second Half ends, Brazil 1, Belgium 2.

Posted at 90'+5'

Roberto Firmino (Brazil) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+5'

Foul by Marouane Fellaini (Belgium).

Posted at 90'+5'

Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Miranda.

Posted at 90'+4'

Attempt missed. Roberto Firmino (Brazil) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Neymar with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 90'+4'

Corner, Brazil. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.

Posted at 90'+4'

Attempt saved. Neymar (Brazil) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Douglas Costa.

Posted at 90'+3'

Hand ball by Eden Hazard (Belgium).

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Miranda (Brazil).

Posted at 90'+2'

Eden Hazard (Belgium) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt blocked. Coutinho (Brazil) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marcelo.

BookingPosted at 90'

Fagner (Brazil) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Fagner (Brazil).

Posted at 90'

Eden Hazard (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

SubstitutionPosted at 87'

Substitution, Belgium. Youri Tielemans replaces Romelu Lukaku.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Miranda (Brazil).

Posted at 86'

Marouane Fellaini (Belgium) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Roberto Firmino (Brazil).

Posted at 86'

Axel Witsel (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

BookingPosted at 85'

Fernandinho (Brazil) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Fernandinho (Brazil).

Posted at 85'

Eden Hazard (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 84'

Attempt missed. Coutinho (Brazil) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Neymar.

Posted at 83'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

SubstitutionPosted at 83'

Substitution, Belgium. Thomas Vermaelen replaces Nacer Chadli because of an injury.

Posted at 81'

Delay in match Nacer Chadli (Belgium) because of an injury.

Posted at 81'

Attempt missed. Renato Augusto (Brazil) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Coutinho.

Posted at 79'

Corner, Brazil. Conceded by Nacer Chadli.

Posted at 78'

Attempt missed. Roberto Firmino (Brazil) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Neymar.

Goal!Posted at 76'

Goal! Brazil 1, Belgium 2. Renato Augusto (Brazil) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Coutinho with a through ball.

Posted at 75'

Attempt blocked. Neymar (Brazil) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 75'

Attempt saved. Douglas Costa (Brazil) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Roberto Firmino.

Posted at 73'

Coutinho (Brazil) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Romelu Lukaku (Belgium).

SubstitutionPosted at 73'

Substitution, Brazil. Renato Augusto replaces Paulinho.

Posted at 71'

Attempt saved. Douglas Costa (Brazil) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fernandinho.

BookingPosted at 71'

Thomas Meunier (Belgium) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 71'

Neymar (Brazil) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Thomas Meunier (Belgium).

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Source: bbc.com

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