.Loses 1-2 to Belgium
By Valentine Amanze (with agency report)
With a blistering counterattack and sturdy goaltending, Belgium shocked Brazil, 2-1, Friday in the World Cup quarterfinal to become one of the tournament’s last four teams standing.
Brazil’s loss continued a string of World Cup upsets that previously eliminated heavyweights Germany, Argentina, and Spain. France is now the only remaining country in this tournament that has won a World Cup within the past 50 years.
Courtois made a breath-taking save
Neymar bent a shot around the Belgian defense that was headed for goal, but the Red Devils’ keeper lunged for it and flicked it over top the cross bar to preserve a one goal lead in the 95th minute.
Halftime update: Belgium 2, Brazil 0
After a first half in which everything went Belgium’s way, the Red Devils finish the first 45 minutes ahead of Brazil, 2-0. Belgium survived an early scare — a well-executed Neymar corner kick — to roar back with two goals in 19 minutes.
Vincent Kompany’s header struck Brazilian defender Fernandinho for an own goal in the 13th minute. In the 32nd minute, a wicked Belgian counterattack found midfielder Kevin De Bruyne 22 yards out for a shot that might have left a vapor trail. The last time Brazil, the five-time champions, fought back from a two-goal deficit in a World Cup match was in the 1938 third-place match against Sweden.