By Dwayne Ferreira
Brazil vs Japan ends 2-1 after Gabriel Martinelli scores in the 95th minute to rescue Brazil and send Japan out heartbroken.
Brazil vs Japan nearly delivered a stunning World Cup upset before Gabriel Martinelli struck in the 95th minute to give Brazil a tense 2-1 round-of-32 win.
Brazil entered the knockout tie as favourites, but Japan arrived with a bold plan and came close to one of the tournament’s great shocks. For long spells, the Samurai Blue looked organised, brave and tactically sharp. They dragged the five-time champions into a tougher contest than Carlo Ancelotti wanted.
Japan struck first in the 29th minute. Kaishu Sano read a loose pass from Danilo, surged straight towards goal and powered a shot beyond Alisson Becker. The finish sent Japan’s supporters into celebration and gave Hajime Moriyasu’s side a lead they could protect.
Brazil vs Japan Turns Into A Knockout Test
The rest of the first half became a Japanese defensive showcase. Brazil dominated the ball, but Japan closed passing lanes quickly, crowded runners and blocked access into central areas. Vinícius Júnior and Brazil’s wide players struggled to build rhythm, while Japan carried danger whenever they broke forward.
Ancelotti’s team returned after halftime with sharper tempo and more urgency. Brazil moved possession faster, pushed extra bodies into the penalty area and kept Zion Suzuki under growing pressure. The equaliser came in the 56th minute, when Gabriel Magalhães crossed to the far post and Casemiro climbed above his marker to head in.
That goal changed the mood, but Japan refused to fall apart. They reset, defended with discipline and continued to frustrate Brazil’s attacking rhythm. Suzuki then made one of the match’s defining saves, touching Vinícius Júnior’s effort onto the post after a dazzling run that looked ready to end the tie.
Martinelli Delivers At The Last Moment
Brazil kept driving forward, and the decisive moment finally came deep into stoppage time. Bruno Guimarães gathered the ball near the edge of the area, paused just long enough to create a narrow passing angle, then slipped it through to Martinelli. The substitute squeezed his finish inside the far post, sending Brazil’s bench into celebration.
The strike became the latest winning goal in normal time of a World Cup knockout match since 1966. Brazil celebrated like a team that understood how close it had come to extra time. Japan’s players, meanwhile, stood crushed after moving within minutes of a first-ever World Cup knockout victory.
Japan depart with respect and proof of progress. Moriyasu said the match showed Japan are closing the gap on football’s traditional powers, even though the defeat hurt. Brazil move on, but this performance also gave them a warning. Reputation alone will not take them through the knockout rounds.
Brazil will face either Norway or Ivory Coast in the round of 16 in New Jersey on Sunday. They survived Brazil vs Japan through patience, squad depth and Martinelli’s late composure, but Ancelotti knows another slow start may prove far more costly.
MATCH SUMMARY
Brazil – 2
Casemiro 56’
Gabriel Martinelli 90+5’
Japan – 1
Kaishu Sano 29’
Result: Brazil won 2-1
Player of the Match: Gabriel Martinelli
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026, Round of 32
Venue: Houston Stadium, Houston, Texas
Next Fixture: Brazil vs Norway or Ivory Coast, Round of 16
#Brazil #Japan #BrazilVsJapan #GabrielMartinelli #Martinelli #Casemiro #KaishuSano #ViniciusJunior #ZionSuzuki #FIFAWorldCup #WorldCup2026 #RoundOf32 #WorldCupKnockouts #TheMorningTelegraph
