Gabriel Martinelli’s 95th-minute winner saw Brazil dramatically come from behind to win 2-1 and advance to the World Cup last 16, cruelly denying Japan a first-ever knockout stage victory in the competition.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were staring down the barrel of a disastrous early exit when Kaishu Sano scored from the edge of the box in the first half – after he had breezed past Casemiro too easily.
But Casemiro made up for that slack defending by equalising after the break. Minutes after failing to convert a sitter, he headed home Gabriel’s cross at the far post to the relief of the sizeable Brazil support in Houston.
Vinicius Jr almost turned the game on its head as his solo run and finish was palmed onto the post by Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
But Suzuki cruelly could not do enough with Martinelli’s stoppage-time poke – only able to palm the effort onto the inside of the post before the ball rolled in.
Brazil advance to the round of 16 where they will play Ivory Coast or Erling Haaland’s Norway. Japan, meanwhile, have led in each of their last three World Cup knockout games – and lost them all.
