Brazil 2-1 Japan: Gabriel Martinelli’s goal five minutes into stoppage time capped a turnaround for Carlo Ancelotti’s side after Japan shocked them at the World Cup.
Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench to score Brazil’s winning goal in stoppage time.
Brazil came from behind to defeat a rising Japan, avoiding the shock of the World Cup and advancing to the last 16.
Kaishu Sano’s goal got Houston’s hearts racing, but the South American comeback saw Casemiro score first and Gabriel Martinelli score in the second half to keep Carlo Ancelotti from touching Thomas Tuchel in Miami.
Rewinding 20 years, Brazil defeated Japan 4-1 in the group stage, and Ronaldo tied the World Cup scoring record at the time. Since that night in Dortmund, the gap between the two teams has definitely closed.
Sano sparked fears of an upset when he scored the opening goal just before the half-hour mark, waltzing past Casemiro and firing a low shot from 20 yards that beat Alisson’s outstretched arm.
Brazil’s inevitable push came early in the second half, with Bruno Guimarães’ header denied in front of the Japanese defense and the goalkeeper managing to deny Casemiro from close range. The former Manchester United midfielder was not denied for long as he scored the equalizer with a header at the back post just before time expired.
Vinicius Jr. broke through the Japanese defense and almost scored one of the great solo goals of the World Cup, but Zion Suzuki deflected the shot off the post with a powerful left hand.
Ancelotti turned to Gabriel Martinelli, who was given a late chance to put Brazil into the last 16, and the Arsenal star finished with perfect composure.
Here are five talking points from Brazil’s late victory.
shock averted
The pressure on Brazil has always been immense, with the current wait of 24 years to win the World Cup. They turned to Ancelotti to add some European smarts, but the Italians were facing one of the great shocks of the modern era at half-time.
Brazil stay on course to face England in the last eight
Brazil often lose in the quarterfinals, having been eliminated in the last eight in four of the past five tournaments, but had they been eliminated in the round of 32, they would have been heartbroken at Copacabana. On the contrary, the dream is alive, even if this Brazilian side is undoubtedly flawed. The hope for them is that they can make up for it with their quality, especially up front.
Brazil’s Achilles heel
Due to the level and overwhelming strength of their opponents, this was rarely exposed in the group stage, but with Casemiro playing as a holding midfielder, they were always in danger of being broken through. By his side were Lucas Paqueta and Guimarães, a 28-year-old midfielder.
That meant that if Japan could get behind or play half-turns, there was always a chance to beat Brazil’s midfield with speed. There had been signs of this happening even before the opening game, with Casemiro receiving a warning and the problem becoming even more obvious as Japan took the lead.
Carlo’s gamble pays off
That said, while it is well documented that Casemiro does not have the speed and energy he boasted a decade ago, the Brazilian has not lost his ability to create goals, and important goals at that. He has continued to do so in the final months of his spell at Old Trafford and is now at the World Cup.
Casemiro helped keep Brazil’s World Cup dream alive
Casemiro was shown a yellow and was being targeted in midfield, so common sense would have suggested he should have been pulled at half-time, but Ancelotti opted to pull Paqueta and replace him with Endrick. Casemiro may have been an accident that was meant to happen, but he is also a goal threat, waiting to pounce, and he did.
Japan is a coming power
Yes, this would have been a shock, no doubt, but perhaps not on the scale some might think. Japan has become a regular at the World Cup without much success, but they have been fighting for their spot in the months leading up to this tournament.
England fans will remember that victory at Wembley was something they ultimately did not want to forget. That night, the Japanese took the lead and never looked back. Few would argue that the value of this victory was not high at all, but it only gave them even more confidence. Japan isn’t a huge force in international soccer, but that could all be about to change in the next few years.
Kaishu Sano gave Japan the lead in the first half.
Impact on English
Unless England themselves become victims of shock this week, this match will always have an impact on England’s place in the final. Brazil had been mentioned as a top-eight opponent, but the South American team may have been considered the favorite by a narrow margin.
At half-time, England officials may have been dreaming of an upset that would give Tuchel’s side an even more generous draw to advance through the tournament. Instead, Japan has shown that it is definitely possible to win, although there is definitely still a showdown in Brazil in the quarterfinals.
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