Mon 02 July 2018, 21:22
Tottenham HotspurJan Vertonghen scored at his second consecutive World Cup to kick-start a stunning comeback for Belgium against Japan on Monday night.
The defender, who memorably netted against South Korea in a 1-0 group stage victory in Brazil four years ago, sent a looping header into the net from wide on the left as his nation came back from two goals down to snatch a last-gasp 3-2 win in Rostov.
Jan’s goal came in the 69th minute after the Red Devils’ opponents had failed to properly clear a corner, with Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui having earlier netted quickfire goals at the start of the second period to leave Roberto Martinez’s side rocked.
By the end, though, it was Japan who were stunned as Marouane Fellaini equalised before fellow substitute and ex-Spur Nacer Chadli sensationally won it on the counter-attack with effectively the last action of the game.
Jan and fellow defender Toby Alderweireld both completed the full match, with Mousa Dembele an unused substitute as Belgium booked a quarter-final date with Brazil at 7pm UK time on Friday.
Jan’s effort made him the fourth Spurs player to score at this year’s World Cup after Harry Kane (five in two games for England), Christian Eriksen (one for Denmark) and Heung-Min Son (two for South Korea).
Harry will be looking to add to his tally when England face Davinson Sanchez’s Colombia in their last 16 clash on Tuesday night (7pm UK). Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier are also available for the Three Lions, with a place in the quarter-finals alongside our Belgian trio and France captain Hugo Lloris up for grabs.
