Brazil beats Japan to reach World Cup last 16
Brazil made a comeback to beat Japan 2-1 in the ongoing World Cup after Gabriel Martinelli scored the decisive goal in the fifth minute of injury time. With this, five-time world champions Brazil entered the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup. Brazil will now face either Norway or the Ivory Coast in the last 16.
Brazil won the ball near Japan’s penalty area with the clock ticking down. Gabriel Martinelli controlled a brilliant pass from Bruno Guimaraes and fired it into the net to seal a thrilling victory. Japan put Brazil under pressure with a brilliant performance in the first half.
Japan took the lead in the game. Kaisu Sano intercepted Danilo’s weak pass in the middle and beat Casemiro to score a brilliant shot into the bottom corner. Brazil, which had not been able to find a rhythm in the first half, came back aggressively in the second half.
10 minutes after the restart, Casemiro scored with a powerful header from Gabriel’s cross from behind to level the game at 1-1. After the equalizer, Brazil kept up the pressure with continuous attacks. Brazil was denied the lead when Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki saved a spectacular shot from Vinicius Junior, who had beaten two defenders with a solo effort.
Japan then regained the balance in the game, but Ao Tanaka lost the ball on the edge of his own penalty area in the final moments. Taking advantage of that, Martinelli scored the decisive goal, ending Japan’s excellent struggle in disappointment and Brazil set their course for the last 16. With this defeat, Japan’s World Cup journey is over.
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