Gabriel Martinelli scored in injury time as Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 and book their place in the last 16 of the World Cup.
In a tense last-16 tie at Houston’s NRG Stadium, Carlo Ancelotti’s side dominated possession but a disciplined and well-coached Japan made them sweat before finding a late winner.
Brazil controlled possession early on, but Japan struck first against the run of play.
Kaishu Sano shot through the heart of the pitch, eluded Casemiro and Gabriel Magalhães and beat Alisson at the far post for his first senior goal in the 29th minute.
Sano’s goal punished Brazil after a defensive error down the right, with the incident log crediting Danilo with a mistake that led to the goal. Japan had made the most of their first real opening.
Japan led 1-0 at half-time despite Brazil controlling long stretches of the first half, with Sano’s finish the difference. Ancelotti was forced into an early change, sending on Endrick.
Brazil made a substitution at the interval, bringing Endrick on for the injured Lucas Paquetá. The change added urgency to a Brazilian team that hadn’t had a lead before halftime.
The equalizer came shortly after the hour mark. During a period of pressure, Gabriel Magalhães received the ball down the left and crossed into the area for Casemiro, who reached the six-yard box and headed powerfully into the net.
Brazil pushed forward in search of a winner and twice came close.
VinÃcius Junior used a defender, turned left and deflected a shot at the far post, but Zion Suzuki somehow got a hand to deflect the effort away.
Japan intervened and threatened to force the extension.
Endrick dropped a half-opener, but even in the 93rd minute Japan were organized enough to throw bodies at the shot and block it, with the resulting corner cleared by Fabinho, who had replaced the injured Casemiro.
Then came the decisive blow. Japan lost the ball deep, Bruno Guimarães faked a shot and slipped substitute Martinelli, who opened his body and rolled it in to send Brazil through to the last 16.
It was the sixth in six minutes of stoppage time when Martinelli received an incisive pass from Guimarães and used two touches to settle it, Suzuki only getting a piece of the shot from close range before crashing off the post and over the line.
The numbers underlined Brazil’s superiority, although the score remained close until the end. They finished with 19 shots on 5 and 69% possession by Japan, but found Suzuki and a packed defense a stubborn obstacle for much of the night.
