Brazil reached the World Cup last 16 with a tense 2-1 victory over Japan, sealed in stoppage time by Gabriel Martinelli. Kaishu Sano had given Japan a first-half lead, before Casemiro’s header brought Brazil level. Martinelli’s 95th-minute strike completed the turnaround at Houston Stadium, sending Carlo Ancelotti’s team through to face either Ivory Coast or Norway.

The result continued Japan’s wait for a World Cup knockout victory, despite a disciplined defensive display. Brazil produced 19 attempts to Japan’s five and posted an expected goals total of 1.72 compared with Japan’s 0.23. Zion Suzuki kept Japan in the contest with several strong saves, but the pressure eventually told in added time.

Casemiro again showed how important set pieces and aerial power were for Brazil. The midfielder had scored eight headed goals in 2025-26 for Manchester United, more than any other Premier League player in all competitions. Against Japan, another precise header took his Brazil tally to 10 international goals, with five of those also coming via his head.

At 34 years and 126 days, Casemiro became Brazil’s second-oldest World Cup scorer. Only Bebeto, who scored against Denmark in 1998 aged 34 years and 137 days, ranked higher. Yet the decisive creative influence came from Bruno Guimaraes, who repeatedly found space and supplied the final pass under pressure during the second half.

Guimaraes, linked with a possible summer move away from Newcastle United, now led the World Cup in assists with four. Only Pele had registered more for Brazil at a single tournament, recording six in 1970. Guimaraes also created four chances against Japan, the most of any Brazil player, and provided the crucial pass for Martinelli’s stoppage-time winner.

Brazil still recognised that the display left room for improvement if a longer run in the tournament was the target. Ancelotti’s side had been knocked out in four of their previous six World Cup knockout ties before meeting Japan, and for a long spell that record appeared under threat again as Brazil struggled to create clear openings inside the penalty area.

Brazil World Cup clash swings after slow first half

Brazil actually started the match on the front foot. Matheus Cunha forced Suzuki into a low early save to the goalkeeper’s right, and from the resulting corner Bruno Guimaraes curled narrowly past the far post after being played in by Lucas Paqueta. That bright opening, however, faded as Japan settled into a compact defensive shape.

The contest turned on the 29th minute when Danilo’s loose pass was intercepted by Sano. Sano drove past Casemiro with little resistance, then drilled a firm strike from the edge of the penalty area beyond Alisson into the bottom-left corner. Japan’s organised back line then frustrated Brazil, with Vinicius Junior and Cunha restricted to hopeful efforts from distance.

Brazil reached half-time without a single shot on target from inside the box, something that had not happened to them in a World Cup match since their 2018 quarter-final loss to Belgium. An injury to Paqueta meant Endrick entered at the restart, and Ancelotti’s side attacked with far greater urgency, pinning Japan deeper around their own penalty area.

Two big chances went begging soon after the interval. Suzuki reacted sharply to block Guimaraes’ close-range header, and Takehiro Tomiyasu then somehow cleared Casemiro’s goalbound effort on the line. The pressure finally told in the 56th minute, when Casemiro nodded Gabriel Magalhaes’ back-post cross into the net to restore parity for Brazil.

Momentum swung firmly towards Brazil. Within two minutes, Vinicius delivered a dazzling run through the left channel and stabbed a shot towards goal, only for Suzuki to tip the attempt onto the post. Japan survived that scare and appeared to be holding on for extra time as the clock moved into added minutes at Houston Stadium.

The decisive moment arrived when Ao Tanaka lost possession on the edge of Japan’s area under pressure. Guimaraes quickly slipped a pass into Martinelli, who finished with a low strike that beat Suzuki and clipped in off the right-hand post. The substitute’s goal sparked emotional celebrations among Brazil players and staff inside the stadium.

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Brazil advanced with a late surge, guided by Casemiro’s experience and Guimaraes’ creativity, while Martinelli supplied the decisive touch. Japan defended with discipline and efficiency, limiting clear chances and relying on Suzuki’s goalkeeping. However, the shot profile and xG figures underlined Brazil’s control, as Ancelotti’s team moved on to a last-16 meeting with Ivory Coast or Norway.