Brazil 1-2 Belgium: Red Devils stun World Cup favourites in quarter-final thriller
- Fernandinho own-goal and Kevin De Bruyne screamer enough for Belgium after blistering first-half display
- Renato Augusto salvaged late hope for Brazil
- Neymar sent home as Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku star
Belgium eliminated World Cup favourites Brazil to book their place in the semi-finals after a thrilling encounter.
A blistering first-half saw the Red Devils take a two-goal lead courtesy of Ferandinho's own goal and a Kevin De Bruyne stunner.
The Selecao turned the game on its head in the second-half and Renato Augusto ensured a gripping finish with his header 15 minutes from time.
But Belgium's golden generation held their nerve to set up a mouth-watering semi-final against France.
This World Cup is not in the business of underwhelming and an electrifying quarter-final lived up to expectation from the outset.
Brazil went close from a couple of corners and then Fernandinho finally converted one, at the wrong end. A huge chunk of misfortune saw Nacer Chadli’s cross bounce in off his bicep in the 13th minute.
Some of the world’s greatest players were on show and the ones in red began to express themselves. Eden Hazard dazzled in his showdown with Neymar, while Romelu Lukaku was virtually unplayable at times.
And another star, De Bruyne, doubled the Red Devils’ lead with a strike worthy of the occasion. Lukaku powered through Brazil before feeding De Bruyne, who arrowed an unstoppable effort past Alisson after 31 minutes.
The Selecao woke up at half-time and threw the kitchen sink at Belgium. A suspicious looking challenge from Vincent Kompany on Manchester City team-mate Gabriel Jesus was surprisingly not reviewed by the on-field referee. It looked like a penalty.
Then with time running out, Philippe Coutinho, undoubtedly Brazil's star player, dragged his team back into the game with a mesmerising cross for substitute Renato Augusto to head home on 76 minutes.
Brazil had so many chances to mend their broken hearts. Roberto Firmino, Augusto and Coutinho all came agonisingly close.
But if Belgium's attackers put the game beyond their opponents in the first-half, their defenders kept it from them in the second.
Neymar, who failed to light up the tournament as expected, so nearly changed all that. His last-minute curling effort would have been one of the iconic goals if not for a brilliant stop from Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois.
What a tournament.
Star man
Lukaku was at his sensational best today. He preyed on the Brazilian defence with his pace, power and skill. They had no answer to his brilliance.
Moment of the match
There are so many moments to choose from. Courtois' save. Hazard's skill. Lukaku's power. But De Bruyne's effort ultimately won the game and it was a thing of beauty.
