Brazil Survive Almighty Scare as Martinelli's 96th-Minute Winner Beats Battling Japan 2-1

[Quarry92]

Brazil needed a stoppage-time winner from substitute Gabriel Martinelli to avoid one of the World Cup's biggest shocks, eventually beating Japan 2-1 in the round of 32 at Houston Stadium on Monday. Japan stunned the five-time champions in the 29th minute when Kaishu Sano intercepted a loose pass from Danilo, surged past Casemiro and finished clinically from outside the box, capping a swift counter-attack that Hajime Moriyasu's side had been threatening throughout a first half in which Brazil dominated possession but struggled badly to break down a disciplined, compact Japanese defensive block.

Brazil emerged with far greater intensity after half-time and eventually drew level in the 78th minute when Casemiro powered home a thunderous header at the back post, having earlier seen a simpler header cleared off the line. Vinicius Junior was denied what would have been a stunning individual goal by a fine save from goalkeeper Zion Suzuki that struck the post. With the match seemingly destined for extra time and Casemiro forced off in stoppage time with an apparent groin problem, Martinelli produced the decisive moment in the sixth minute of added time, receiving the ball inside the penalty area from Bruno Guimaraes, steadying himself and drilling a low finish beyond Suzuki into the bottom corner. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Brazilian players and ended Japan's brave resistance agonisingly close to forcing extra time.

The final statistics underline how much Japan punched above their weight: Brazil finished with an expected goals tally of 1.72 compared to Japan's 0.23, and had 19 attempts on goal to Japan's five, with 61 percent possession to Japan's 30. Japan's exit continues a pattern of World Cup heartbreak, having reached the last 16 at both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments only to fall again at the same stage in 2026. For Brazil, the result keeps alive their bid for a sixth World Cup title and sets up a round of 16 meeting with the winner of Norway against Ivory Coast on July 5 in New Jersey. Neymar, who made his first appearance of the tournament in the final group game against Scotland, said afterwards that he had shed tears in the dressing room out of gratitude simply to be playing for Brazil again.

Brazil 2-1 Japan: Gabriel Martinelli scores 96th minute comeback winner to send five-time champions through - as it happenedwww.espn.com

[Hollow Vulture]

An xG of 1.72 to 0.23 with 19 shots to 5 tells you Brazil were the much better team across the 96 minutes, but football does not care about underlying numbers if you cannot find the breakthrough until the sixth minute of stoppage time. Japan's defensive discipline very nearly delivered one of the all-time World Cup shocks