Japan's Heartbreak as Brazil Advances to the Last 16
Collected Photo
A last-gasp goal from super-sub Gabriel Martinelli saw Brazil beat Japan 2-1 to secure their place in the World Cup knockout stages.
Despite falling behind early on, Carlo Ancelotti's side claimed victory in Houston. Casemiro and Martinelli were the key figures in Brazil's win. Japan took the lead in the 29th minute through Kaishu Sano, but Casemiro restored parity for Brazil with a goal in the 56th minute.
Just as the match seemed to be heading towards an additional 30 minutes of extra time, substitute Martinelli stepped up. He latched onto a square pass from Guimarães and placed a precise finish into the back of the net, shattering Japan's dream of reaching the knockout rounds for the first time.
With this thrilling victory, Brazil now advance to the next stage of the tournament. Their opponent for the match on July 5th in New Jersey will be determined tomorrow, with the winner of the clash between Norway and Ivory Coast set to face them.
Coach Ancelotti opted not to field Neymar in this match. The cameras repeatedly searched for him throughout the game. At one point, he was seen warming up on the sidelines, but it was clear he was not fully fit, as he appeared to be limping slightly. Ultimately, there was no need to bring him on, as Martinelli's winning goal gave Neymar additional time to rest and recover.
