Brazil have booked their place in the last 16 of the World Cup in dramatic circumstances, scoring a last gasp winner to beat Japan 2-1 in Houston.
It was a game in which Japan took the lead, scoring a brilliant goal in the first half with the aid of some questionable defending from their opponents.
🇧🇷 0-1 🇯🇵
Kaishu Sano has put Japan ahead all by himself; after winning the ball in midfield, he carries the ball forward and fires a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.
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Casemiro would make up for his role in that strike by scoring the equaliser, producing a fine header to level the match in the 56th minute.
Brazil would push hard for a winner in the half hour that followed, although it looked as though Japan would manage to bring the tie to extra-time. However, a brilliant finish from substitute Gabriel Martinelli deep into stoppage time would ensure that the five-time winners advanced.
Full Time: 🇧🇷 2-1 🇯🇵
A last-minute winner from Gabriel Martinelli for Brazil has secured their spot in the Round of 16 and knocked out Japan.
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Roy Keane praises Carlo Ancelotti after Brazil vs Japan
This was a nervier occasion than Brazil would have hoped for, but they did enough to ensure their place in the next round against Ivory Coast or Norway.
Their superior quality shone through in the end, with some second half substitutes making a big impact. Carlo Ancelotti has certainly installed a huge amount of belief in this team, with his calmness in the dugout playing a role in this result.
Speaking on ITV, Roy Keane also had special praise for the way the Italian ignored the celebrations at full-time to shake the hand of Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu.
What a game. I thought that second half was fantastic…
I’m telling you, their spirit and fight is as good as any of those previous [Brazil] teams. They also had brilliant quality.
The goal at the end, the desire to go and win the game instead of settling for extra-time. We spoke about Japan’s pressing, Brazil’s pressing to go get that winning goal, the bit of passing and composure, that’s why it’s the best game in the world.
It’s hard to please me, but I love watching games like that. Credit to Japan as well, fantastic effort.
Brazil more than deserved to win the game. They got the goals in the second half with the manager’s substitutions.
At the end with the all the commotion, the class of Ancelloti to go and shake the opposition manager’s hand. Pure class from Brazil on and off the pitch.
I loved it.
A real touch of class.
Brazil will hope to improve as the tournament progresses, with the manner of this victory likely to bolster their spirits moving forward. In saying that, they will have receive a stern test in the next round against the Ivorians or Norwegians.
With Carlo Ancelloti on the sideline, you wouldn’t bet against them producing a deep run during this summer’s World Cup.