Gabriel Martinelli's Late Winner Sends Brazil Into World Cup Round Of 16
Sports Updated: 30 June 2026 09:29 EAT
Photo courtesy : Brazilian Star forward Gabriel Martinelli celebrating the winner against Japan
Brazil booked their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to seal a 2-1 comeback victory over Japan in a tense Round of 32 encounter in Houston on Monday.
Japan shocked the five-time world champions by taking the lead in the 29th minute through Kaishu Sano, who capitalised on a defensive lapse before firing past Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker. The goal rewarded Japan for a disciplined opening half in which they frustrated Brazil with organised defending and quick counter-attacks.
Brazil struggled to create clear-cut chances before the break as Carlo Ancelotti's side found it difficult to break down Japan's compact defensive shape. The South Americans went into halftime trailing despite dominating possession.
Ancelotti's tactical adjustments after the interval transformed Brazil's performance. The Seleção increased the tempo, stretched Japan's defence and began creating more opportunities through sustained attacking pressure.
The equaliser arrived in the 56th minute when veteran midfielder Casemiro headed home from Gabriel Magalhães' cross, bringing Brazil level after a dominant start to the second half.
Brazil continued to push for a winner, with Vinícius Júnior testing Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who produced several important saves to keep his side in the contest as extra time approached.
Martinelli, introduced as a second-half substitute, proved decisive in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The Arsenal forward latched onto a pass from Bruno Guimarães before calmly slotting the ball beyond Suzuki to complete Brazil's comeback and spark celebrations among players and supporters.
According to Reuters, Martinelli's strike was the latest winning goal scored in normal time of a FIFA World Cup knockout match since 1966, highlighting the dramatic nature of Brazil's victory.
Speaking after the match, Martinelli described the moment as unforgettable, saying he found it difficult to put into words what it meant to score the goal that kept Brazil's World Cup campaign alive.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti praised his players for remaining patient despite falling behind, saying Brazil never lost belief and showed the character required to overcome a determined Japanese side.
The victory also marked Brazil's first comeback from a losing position in a World Cup knockout match since defeating England in the quarter-finals of the 2002 tournament.
For Japan, the defeat brought another painful end to their World Cup journey despite an impressive display that had them within minutes of recording their first-ever knockout-stage victory at the tournament.
Brazil will now face the winner of the Round of 32 match between Norway and Ivory Coast in the Round of 16 as the South American giants continue their pursuit of a record-extending sixth FIFA World Cup title.
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