Brazil: 2, Japan: 1
Another unbelievable World Cup knockout game, with a late winner.
Japan gave the Brazilians a scare in the 29th minute, a great strike from defensive midfielder Kaishu Sano to give the Japanese an early lead. Brazil are known for their creativity and flair, but there was not much of it in the first half, and changes needed to be made.
It wasn’t long into the second half where Brazil got the equalizing goal. A great cross from centre back Gabriel found the head of central midfielder Casemiro, who scored, after being quite poor in the first half.
Nearly immediately after the goal, left winger Vinicius Junior made an excellent run, but his shot, what would have been the goal of the tournament, was narrowly saved by goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
It was looking like the game was going to extra time, but neither team backed down. Japan, despite not having much of the ball, were still committing players forward in their attacks, searching for a winner. The winner did come, but for Brazil, substitute Gabriel Marinelli slotted one in the 96th minute to send the Brazilians into the Round of 16.
Brazil will face the winner of Norway and Ivory Coast.
Player of the Match: Gabriel (Arsenal)
Paraguay: 1 (4), Germany: 1 (3)
` A huge shock in this tournament, and the first penalty shootout of the World Cup. Germany still have not won a World Cup knockout game since their win over Argentina to win the tournament in 2014.
Paraguay scored the first goal, after being dominated on possession by the Germans, in the 42nd minute, striker Julio Enciso scored the goal, his third goal contribution of the tournament.
Germany scored the equalizer in the 54th minute, striker Kai Havertz grabbed it, his third of the tournament. The Germans couldn’t get the winner despite having all the chances, and the game went to extra time.
Centre back Jonathan Tah put the Germans in front, and the country could breathe a sigh of relief in the 102nd minute. Another twist in the game however, and a foul was called in the box, not letting Paraguay’s goalkeeper, Orlando Gill, make a play on the shot. The game remained tied going into a penalty shootout.
Havertz is usually a very sound penalty taker, but he stepped up first and his shot was saved by Gill. Paraguay made their first 3 penalties, and Germany made their next 2. Substitute Nick Woltemade stepped up next, and his shot was also saved.
Paraguay had a chance to win, and had a great advantage, but substitute Antonio Sanabria missed the net with his chance, and after German substitute Nadiem Amiri stepped up and scored, Paraguay had a chance to win again. Substitute Fabian Balbuena was up next, and his shot was saved by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Germany had all the momentum going into the sudden death penalty shootout, with the first 5 players each making 3. It was Tah who stepped up for the Germans, and skied his attempt well over the goal, putting Paraguay in another chance to win. Centre back Jose Canale made no mistake this time, and he sent the Germans home.
Paraguay were excellent defensively all game, and are very much deserving of the result. They will face the winner of France and Sweden.
Player of the Match: Orlando Gill (San Lorenzo)
Morocco: 1 (3), Netherlands: 1 (2)
Another incredible knockout stage game, this one between two top 10 ranked teams according to FIFA.
No goals in the first half, but Morocco had a lot of the best chances, and they were the ones who were the closest to the back of the net.
It was the Netherlands who would end up opening the scoring in the 72nd minute. A great run from attacking midfielder Crysencio Summerville set up attacking midfielder Cody Gakpo very well, and he scored.
The Netherlands just had to defend now, but in the 91st minute, Morocco tied it. A cross in from substitute Chemsdine Talbi found the head of centre back Issa Diop, and the game was sent to extra time.
Both teams were waiting around for penalties, but Morocco had a chance that could have ended it before that. Substitute Soufiane Rahimi got free, but goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made a game saving stop to send the game to penalties.
Substitute Teun Koopmeiners scored the first penalty, and each team missed their next one. Rahimi scored for Morocco after taking a bounce off of Verbruggen, followed by substitute Wout Weghorst and Talbi, which tied the shootout at 2.
Substitute Quinten Timber was up next, and he yanked his, missing by a good distance. Morocco’s captain, right back Achraf Hakimi, had a chance to put the Moroccan’s in the lead, but he hit the post on his try. Summerville stepped up next, and his attempt was saved easily by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Striker Ismael Saibari had a chance to send Morocco to the Round of 16, and he did, knocking out the Netherlands earlier than they had ever been before. They will play Canada next in the knockouts.
Player of the Match: Issa Diop (Fulham)