Buzzer Beater (7/2)

TGI FRIDAY'S, LOS ANGELES - LADERA, CA -- #61 2H-Japan came out strategically and attacked when necessary to upset the #3 1G-Belgium's offense but instead of trying to play for a scoreless draw, Japan managed to score twice after the half and took a 2-0 lead. Two BEL subs in the 65' changed everything. Creating havoc off a corner kick, a routine header cross somehow managed to tuck away just under the crossbar to cut JPN's lead in half in the 69'.

Then five minutes later, sub Marouane Fellaini
scored off a cross and we were tied. JPN did not settle back but continued to possess and attack. BEL then counter-punched with some great chances that were saved. In the waning moments, perhaps JPN's first slowdown of the match, they slow played a corner kick that was poorly kicked and the GK grabbed it with seconds left in stoppage. Instead of just falling down and waiting for the ref to blow the whistle, he then quickly rolled the ball out and less than 10 seconds later, BEL scored with a great run and dummy by Romelu Lukaku that allowed sub Nacer Chadli to slide it past the GK for the win. Last play of the match, a buzzer beater as soon as JPN kicked off, the ref blew the whistle. A great 2-goal comeback (first of this tournament and first in knockout match since '70) but how JPN was able to play even with a team ranked 58 spots higher was very impressive, more so than RUS winning on PKs over a team ranked 60 spots higher since RUS did just try to play for a scoreless draw (or in this case a 1-1 tie).

When 1E-Brazil's Neymar isn't exaggerating injuries, he is scoring and scored his 2nd of the tournament, the game-winner, and BRA added a late goal to beat 2F-Mexico, 2-0. Despite Rafa Marquez becoming the first player to start a match in five World Cups and the aggressive start, MEX wore down in the heat and managed just one shot on goal while BRA had 10.

So now we are just left with ten European and South American teams. BEL became the 10th team to tie or win the match in stoppage time.  31 of the 54 matches have been tied at the half, including both of these which were 0-0 after 45 minutes.  JPN became the 5th team to score first and lose in this World Cup.  MEX became the 6th team to be shut out twice.  The AFC/CAF/CONCACAF finished a miserable 9-26-6 combined.

No changes at the top as 70 got both teams correct and six went 1-1.  Kds911 still leads by 2 (93-91) over The Mighty Mobelfakta.  28 have picked 4 of the 6 Quarterfinalists while Krispy Kremer (70th-T, 68) has only picked 1 of 6.

One casualty of my USB drive dying is that there was no thought on trying to do who was eliminated or not after the Group Stage.  So we will have our first look at who has been eliminated after Tuesday's matches.  Remember, the top 4 will win money.

Quarterfinalists (W-L-T Pts - (GD - GF))
BEL 4-0-0 12 (8 - 12)
URU 4-0-0 12 (6 - 7)
CRO 3-0-1 10 (6 - 8)
BRA 3-0-1 10 (6 - 7)
FRA 3-0-1 10 (3 - 7)
RUS 2-1-1 7 (4 - 9)

Eliminated (W-L-T Pts - (GD - GF))
ESP 1-0-3 6 (1 - 7)
DEN 1-0-3 6 (1 - 1)
MEX 2-2-0 6 (-3 - 3)
POR 1-1-2 5 (0 - 6)
JPN 1-2-1 4 (-1 - 6)
ARG 1-2-1 4 (-3 - 6)