[Archive 2018-07-05] FIFA World Cup 2018 Last 16: Brazil, Belgium advance at expense of Mexico, Japan

Historical archive — originally published 2018-07-05. This report records what was known on that date. It is not current news; subsequent events may have changed the situation. Wikinews closed in May 2026.

On Monday, Brazil defeated Mexico 2–0 and Belgium defeated Japan 3–2 in the FIFA football World Cup in the Last 16 knockout phase. Brazil is now scheduled to play Belgium in the quarter-finals.

Brazil faced Mexico in Samara Arena. Mexico had greater ball possession in the match. Before the half-hour mark, Neymar, Thiago Silva, Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho had attempts for goal but their attempts were blocked or saved by Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Both sides were tied goalless at the halftime.

In the second half, Brazil opened the scoring in the 51st minute when Neymar scored a close-range shot from Willian's assist. Hirving Lozano and Carlos Vela had their attempts for equalising for Mexico but were unsuccessful. Chicharito was substituted out in the 60th minute. Brazil made two substitutions in the final ten minutes of the 90-minute game, as Fernandinho and Roberto Firmino were substituted in for Paulinho and Coutinho. In the 88th minute, just two minutes after coming on the field, Firmino scored a goal, doubling the lead for Brazil. The South Americans won the match 2–0.

Belgium faced Japan at the Rostov Arena. Belgium had greater ball possession versus Japan, who were the only Asian team left in the tournament. In the first ten minutes, Japan's Shinji Kagawa and Gen Shoji missed their attempts for goals. Belgium's Axel Witsel, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Vincent Kompany had attempts to put Belgium in lead but both the sides remained goalless in the first half.

Three minutes in the second half, Genki Haraguchi opened the scoring for Japan, from Gaku Shibasaki's assist. Four minutes later, Takashi Inui scored from Kagawa's assist doubling the lead for Japan. In the 65th minute, Yannick Carrasco was replaced by Nacer Chadli. Four minutes later, Jan Vertonghen scored the first goal for Belgium. Fellaini scored an equaliser in the 74th minute from Hazard's assist. In the injury time, Chadli added the third goal from Thomas Meunier's assist which proved to be the match-winning goal.

Source and licence

Text adapted from FIFA World Cup 2018 Last 16: Brazil, Belgium advance at expense of Mexico, Japan by Wikinews contributors under CC BY 2.5. Paragraphs have been selected and abridged, and formatting adjusted. Contributor history.