JUNE 29 (V7N) - A late injury-time goal by substitute Gabriel Martinelli propelled Brazil into the World Cup round of 16 following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over an unyielding Japanese squad on Monday. The Arsenal winger found the back of the net in the 95th minute of the match in Houston, breaking Japanese hearts in dramatic fashion. Thanks to this narrow victory in a captivating knockout match, the five-time world champions have booked their ticket to New Jersey, where they will face either Norway or the Ivory Coast this upcoming Sunday.
Initially, it was Japan that stunned the massive crowd of yellow-clad fans when midfielder Kaishu Sano scored a spectacular solo goal in the 29th minute, capitalizing on a glaring Brazilian blunder. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side clawed their way back into the game 11 minutes into the second half through a header from veteran midfielder Casemiro. The goal signaled a shift in momentum, allowing Brazil to dominate the remainder of the second half before Martinelli popped up at the very end to seal the win and spark wild celebrations among the Brazilian faithful.
Historically, the odds were heavily stacked against Japan, a nation that has never won a World Cup knockout match, compared to Brazil's legendary status as record five-time titleholders. Even so, critics note that the current Brazilian roster is far from a vintage lineup, while Japan has been widely tipped as a dangerous dark horse in the tournament. Driven by the rhythmic beat of their fans' drums, Brazil controlled the opening minutes of the match in front of 68,777 spectators, a stadium energy that surged even higher whenever images of Neymar on the bench flashed across the big screens.
As the physical intensity escalated, Sano received an early yellow card for a heavy challenge on Vinicius Junior, while Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha saw his sharp effort turned wide by Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. Japan, who had previously secured a historic 3-2 friendly win over Brazil on home soil back in October, soon found their rhythm and took the lead just before the half-hour mark. The breakthrough came from a sloppy pass by Brazilian defender Danilo, which allowed Sano to intercept the ball in the center circle. The Mainz midfielder effortlessly bypassed an already-booked Casemiro and surged forward to slot the ball past Alisson for his first international goal.
The unexpected deficit made the Brazilian supporters visibly anxious, prompting groans at every misplaced or backward pass as the team looked vulnerable in defense and stagnant in attack. Adding to Ancelotti's problems, an emotional Lucas Paqueta was forced to limp off the pitch in distress at halftime, making way for 19-year-old prodigy Endrick. Japan, who reached the round of 32 after an impressive run that included thrashing Tunisia and drawing with both Sweden and the Netherlands, seemed to have the South American giants exactly where they wanted them.
However, Brazil mounted a fierce comeback to start the second half, putting immense pressure on the Japanese backline, where defender Takehiro Tomiyasu had to clear the ball off the goal line twice. The equalizer arrived shortly after when Arsenal defender Gabriel floated a precise cross into the box, allowing an unmarked Casemiro to head it in at the back post. With Vinicius Junior coming alive to torment the defense and rattle the goalpost, Brazil pushed relentlessly for a winner, culminating in Martinelli's decisive, last-minute strike that settled the thrilling encounter.
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