The Tribune

Brazil 2-0 Mexico

(Mirror.co.uk) Neymar caught fire in red-hot Samara to send Brazil into the quarter finals with a fiesty 2-0 win over Mexico.

The 26-year-old star hasn't had the fastest starts to Russia 2018 but he's starting to go through the gears – and that will frighten Brazil's World Cup rivals.

Neymar was full of danger – and theatrics – but he produced a flash of Samba magic to hand Brazil the lead with his 52nd minute goal.

The world's most expensive star began the move with a cheeky back-heel on the edge of Mexico's box then raced forward to finish Willian's cross into an open goal. It was his second of the tournament.

He then played a key role in Roberto Firmino's late second, evading a challenge and poking goalwards, before Firmino turned into the net from close range. It was sweet revenge after being fouled by Mexican stars desperate to stop him.

Mexico substitute Miguel Layun was lucky to stay on the pitch after deliberately standing on Neymar's ankle after Neymar had been fouled right in front of Brazil's technical area.

Italian referee looked like he would refer to VAR but didn't – and Layun escaped a red card.

It was another tale of knock-out woe for Mexico who have now gone out at the same last 16 stage in the last SEVEN World Cups dating back to 1994.

But they gave it a real go starting the tense battle with a fierce intensity matching the red-hot atmosphere in the space-age looking Samara Arena.

They put a strong press on Brazil and Juan Carlos Osario's men looked dangerous for the first 20 minutes. But they needed a goal in that spell and it never came.

And now Brazil will head to a quarter final clash with either Belgium or Japan who play in Rostov later.

Belgium 3-2 Japan

Belgium delivered one of the finest World Cup comebacks to break Japanese hearts in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Not since West Germany defeated England 3-2 in the 1970 finals in Mexico had a side come back from two goals down in a knockout tie.

But Roberto Martinez's men did just that in Rostov-on-Don, with Nacer Chadli scoring a 94th minute winner after a stunning counter attack to ensure the Red Devils, somewhat miraculously, reached the quarter-finals.

Goals from Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui had put Japan 2-0 up early in the second half and left Belgium on the brink.

Jan Vertonghen's deflected cross gave them hope before substitute Marouane Fellaini headed in to level the scores.

With the tie heading for extra time, Belgium delivered a clinical counter as Romelu Lukaku dummied Thomas Meunier's cross for Chadli to slide in.

They will now face Brazil in the last eight on Friday.

Brazil's Neymar, right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the round of 16 match between Brazil and Mexico at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Samara Arena, in Samara, Russia, Monday, July 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)