Carlo Ancelotti’s men mount a dramatic second-half comeback after Kaishu Sano put clinical Japan ahead, setting up a Round of 16 clash in New Jersey.
DUBAI: Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli struck a dramatic winner in the 96th minute to rescue five-time champions Brazil from the brink of extra time, securing a breathless 2-1 comeback victory over Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup round-of-32 stage.
Underdogs Japan took an unlikely but thoroughly deserved lead in the first half when Kaishu Sano capitalized on an uninspiring Brazilian start. Carlo Ancelotti’s men looked sluggish and devoid of ideas in the opening 45 minutes, failing to replicate their group-stage attacking flair. Veteran midfielder Casemiro, who struggled early on, found redemption in the 56th minute, connecting with a powerful trademark header to level the scores following a tactical structural shift by Ancelotti at halftime.
At 34 years and 126 days, Casemiro’s equalizer etched his name into the history books as Brazil’s second-oldest World Cup goalscorer, trailing only Bebeto’s 1998 record. Despite Japan’s disciplined defensive block and sporadic counter-attacks—including a crucial sequence where Suzuki denied a spectacular Vinicius Jr solo effort—the Asian powerhouse ultimately wilted under intense second-half pressure.
Just as extra time loomed as a certainty, substitute Gabriel Martinelli turned savior, popping up deep into stoppage time to deliver a devastating sucker punch. The victory marks Brazil’s first World Cup win after conceding the opening goal since 2014, breaking a bleak five-match winless streak when trailing. Brazil now advances to the Round of 16, where they will face either Ivory Coast or Norway at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 5.
The Curse of the First Knockout Round
For Japan, the defeat marks yet another chapter of agonizing heartbreak at the world stage. The Samurai Blue have historically failed to cross the first knockout hurdle in World Cup history, enduring remarkably similar collapses:
- 2002: Knocked out 1-0 by Turkey.
- 2010: Defeated on penalties by Paraguay.
- 2018: Conceded a stoppage-time winner to Belgium after leading 2-0.
- 2022: Eliminated on penalties by Croatia after leading 1-0.
- 2026: Beaten by a 96th-minute Martinelli goal after leading Brazil 1-0.
