martinelli magic breaks japanese hearts | brazil edge japan 2-1
MATCH INFO
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Brazil 2-1 Japan
Date: June 29, 2026
Competition: FIFA World Cup - Round of 32
Venue: Houston Stadium, Texas
brazil fought back from a goal down to defeat japan 2-1 and advance to the round of 16 of the 2026 fifa world cup. an incredible stoppage-time winner from gabriel martinelli completed the turnaround after casemiro had canceled out kaishū sano's first-half opener.
Goals
- minute 29 kaishū sano: 0-1 japan. intercepts a misplaced pass, surges forward, and fires a brilliant right-footed shot from outside the penalty area.
- minute 56 casemiro: 1-1 brazil. rises highest to thump a header out of the goalkeeper's reach from a pinpoint gabriel magalhães cross.
- minute 90+5 gabriel martinelli: 2-1 brazil. squeezes a dramatic late winner in off the post deep into stoppage time to break japanese hearts.
How It Went
japan put up a monumental fight against the five-time champions, taking a shock lead into halftime thanks to sano's fantastic solo effort. brazil came out swinging in the second half, finally leveling the score through casemiro's powerful header. the seleção relentlessly pressed for a winner as the match wore on, and just as extra time loomed, substitute martinelli delivered the decisive blow in the 95th minute to send brazil through.
Quick Take
- brazil survive a massive scare to book their place in the round of 16, where they will face either ivory coast or norway.
- gabriel martinelli proves to be the ultimate game-changer off the bench.
- total heartbreak for japan, who played brilliantly but couldn't hold on against the relentless brazilian pressure in the final moments.
- an injury concern for brazil as casemiro was forced off early in second-half stoppage time.