Casemiro equalized and Gabriel Martinelli scored at the 96th minute (51st minute of the second half) to secure a 2-1 comeback victory over Japan and a spot in the World Cup knockout stage.
The Brazilian national team is through to the World Cup Round of 16. In a match filled with drama until the final play, Brazil defeated Japan 2-1 in a comeback victory last Monday (29) in Houston. After falling behind early, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad mounted a comeback with goals from Casemiro and Gabriel Martinelli, who scored at the 96th minute to seal qualification.
The Seleção was superior for most of the contest, controlling possession and creating the best opportunities. However, they found it difficult to break down Japan’s stubborn defensive setup, which kept its lines compact and relied heavily on counterattacks.
Having qualified, Brazil now awaits the winner of the match between Norway and Ivory Coast to determine its Round of 16 opponent. The team returns to the field on Sunday (5) at 5:00 PM (Brasília time) in New Jersey.
