Martinelli late show as Brazil down Japan 2-1 to reach World Cup last 16

HOUSTON: Brazil survived a World Cup last-32 scare when they fought back to beat Japan 2-1 after Gabriel Martinelli squeezed in a shot at the far post deep in stoppage time on Monday (Jun 29).

Brazil, who will next face Norway or Ivory Coast in New Jersey on Sunday, improved after the break with Japan taking an early lead and shackling the attack of the five-time champions for much of the opening period.

Martinelli’s winner in the 95th minute came at the end of a tense match and was the latest winning goal in normal time of a World Cup knockout game since 1966. Brazil players and staff hugged each other on the pitch after the match as the Japanese players watched on in disbelief.

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Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti must have said something at half-time as his players came out with a sense of urgency and created a number of chances, pushing forward at a faster pace and loading the box.

"We didn't lose our patience, we had a lot of resources on the pitch and on the bench," Ancelotti said. "Japan isn't an easy opponent. It's very organised and intense.

"I was saving Neymar for extra time. He was going to enter the pitch on minute 105 if we hadn't scored the second goal. I didn't want to change the structure because the team was playing well."

Brazil, however, did not need their all-time leading scorer and equalised when Casemiro, who had missed a golden chance moments earlier, outjumped his marker to nod in a far-post header in the 56th minute from a Gabriel Magalhaes cross.

Vinicius Jr looked like he had found the winner when his mazy run ended with Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki brilliantly pushing a shot on to the post much to the disbelief of a sea of yellow-clad supporters in the packed stadium.

Japan players regrouped and kept Brazil at bay until Bruno Guimaraes received the ball on the edge of the box before hesitating and then slipping it through to Martinelli who made no mistake with a clinical finish.

The result denied Japan a first-ever World Cup knockout win and Brazil stayed on course to reach the quarter-finals again as they have in every tournament since a last-16 exit in 1990.

Casemiro praised his side for keeping their cool and plugging away until the end.

"I knew the opportunity would come, so the team is to be congratulated mainly for this calmness within the game," said the 34-year-old.

"When you score, all the team scores, and when you suffer, all the team suffers."

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said his team would depart the tournament with heads held high.

"Even people who don't really know or pay much attention to football have come to see that Japan is fighting to become world champion and is growing and challenging itself," Moriyasu said.