<\/p>\n
Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimar\u00e3es (8) and forward Gabriel Martinelli (22) celebrate Martinelli\u2019s goal against Japan during the second half of a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Brazil forward Rayan (26) drops to his knees as he celebrates a 2-1 win over Japan in a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Brazil celebrates a goal by Brazil forward Gabriel Martinelli against Japan during the second half of a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Brazil midfielder Casemiro (5) celebrates his goal against Japan during the second half of a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Brazil midfielder Casemiro (5) heads the ball past Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki (1) for a goal during the second half of a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Brazil midfielder Casemiro gives a thumbs up to fans as he celebrates a 2-1 win over Japan in a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Brazil players celebrate a 2-1 win over Japan in a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Brazil fans celebrate a 2-1 win over Japan in a World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
On the anniversary of its first\u00a0World Cup<\/a> triumph\u00a0\u2014 led by \u201cKing\u201d Pel\u00e9 in Sweden in 1958\u00a0\u2014 Brazilian football paid tribute to the greatest icon in its rich history with a nerve-wracking victory. To secure the win, the team had to rely more on its pedigree and character than on the \u201cjogo bonito\u201d<\/a> of those days.<\/p>\n Gabriel Martinelli\u2019s stoppage-time goal spared the team the agony of extra time and a potential penalty shootout, sealing a 2\u20131 victory over a spirited Japanese side at Reliant Stadium. Japan ultimately succumbed to the superiority of the five-time champions, who secured their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.<\/p>\n Martinelli, the Arsenal midfielder, was in the right place at the right time to spark Brazilian celebrations. He fired a diagonal right-footed shot past goalkeeper Zion Suzuki\u00a0\u2014 finding the net just inside the left post\u00a0\u2014 after receiving a superb pass from Bruno Guimar\u00e3es inside the box. The goal came in the sixth minute of stoppage time, just as the 68,777 spectators packing the stadium were bracing for extra time. Earlier, Japan had opened the scoring in the 29th minute through Kaishu Sano, while Casemiro briefly leveled the match in the second half (56th minute) with a header.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n “It was a very tough match, and when the second goal came, I saw the whole crowd erupt with joy,” said Casemiro.<\/p>\n Brazil, seeking an unprecedented sixth World Cup title, will play again on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, against the winner of Tuesday\u2019s match between Ivory Coast and Norway in Arlington.<\/p>\n JAPAN\u2019S HEARTBREAK: The Samari Blue are 0-5 in World Cup knockout rounds<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI suffered less than the fans because the team was playing well,\u201d said coach Carlo Ancelotti at the postmatch press conference. \u201cWe faced a respectable opponent\u00a0\u2014 very well organized, very dangerous, and with players who were strong in duels (\u2026) our team wasn\u2019t lost the way it was during the first half of the match against Morocco.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The experienced Italian strategist was referring to the scoreless draw in its opener, when the African side clearly outplayed Brazil in the first half \u2014and could even have snatched a win\u00a0\u2014 before Brazil rallied in subsequent matches to thrash Haiti and Scotland, finishing top of Group C on its way to the Round of 32.<\/p>\n But in this match, despite trailing on the scoreboard, Ancelotti and Brazil reacted in time\u00a0\u2014 both tactically and mentally\u00a0\u2014 to eventually reflect their superiority in the final score.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you win, it\u2019s always down to the players, and when you lose, the blame falls on the coach,\u201d said \u201cCarletto\u201d with a touch of sarcasm. He has won the UEFA Champions League five times\u00a0\u2014 a record for a manager\u00a0\u2014 and is the only coach to have won league titles in Europe\u2019s five major competitions. \u201cIn modern football, suffering is normal (\u2026) sometimes I have to sit here and speak after a defeat, and that\u2019s much harder.\u201d<\/p>\n BRAZIL 2, JAPAN 1: From stadium walk to final goal, the day in Houston<\/a><\/p>\n Bringing on Martinelli was one of the astute changes Ancelotti made to try to turn the match around in the second half after being caught off guard by the Japanese tactical setup, which had conceded possession but effectively shut down all of Brazil\u2019s attacking avenues during the first half.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The midfielder\u00a0\u2014 a Premier League champion and Champions League finalist with Arsenal before his arrival at the World Cup\u00a0\u2014 came on in the 65th minute, replacing Matheus Cunha. It was a move designed to inject fresh energy into a Brazilian side that did the heavy lifting in the second half, completely dominating possession and attacking with much greater depth.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was the most difficult match; we had trouble in the first half because they were sitting very deep, so in the second half we tried using more crosses. We faced a challenge and handled it very well after the break,\u201d the coach explained, speaking in a mix of Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian. \u201cIn the first half, the aim was to play between the lines to feed the forwards, but they were packed tight at the back. At halftime, we discussed switching to crosses instead (\u2026) we have the setup to strike, and there is still room for improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n During that tricky first half, following the cooling break, Japan capitalized on one of its few deep forays. Danilo played a poor pass from the right toward the center; Sano intercepted it and surged through a massive gap in midfield. This exposed the defensive issues Brazil has been experiencing when out of possession: veteran Casemiro was late to close down the space, Gabriel Magalh\u00e3es was positioned too deep, and the Japanese midfielder found enough room to fire a low right-footed shot past goalkeeper Alisson.<\/p>\n “We played against a very strong team, and their goal caught us by surprise \u2014 we didn’t expect it. But we knew we could turn the result around and that we would have our chances,” said Gabriel Magalh\u00e3es.<\/p>\n IDENTITY CRISIS: Can Brazil\u2019s ‘beautiful game’ survive?<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n After the break, however, Brazil came out determined to find the net. Its attack became much more direct, targeting the flanks whenever advancing through the middle proved difficult.<\/p>\n This was also where the first of \u201cCarletto\u2019s\u201d substitutions paid off. Attacking midfielder Lucas Paquet\u00e1 had limped off at the end of the first half after taking a knock, so Endrick\u00a0\u2014 a much more energetic and dynamic attacking threat\u00a0\u2014 came on in his place for the second half.<\/p>\n This forced the Japanese defense to redouble its efforts to contain the wave of Brazilian attacks, and the need to keep an eye on Endrick gave Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior a bit more freedom on the left wing. Playing wide on the flank, the skillful Real Madrid forward was far more dangerous than when operating centrally. Crosses began raining in from the wings, and Suzuki\u00a0\u2014 the talented, U.S.-born Parma goalkeeper\u00a0\u2014 was forced to pull off a couple of crucial saves, most notably denying a header from Bruno Guimar\u00e3es in the 52nd minute.<\/p>\n An equalizer seemed imminent and was the direct result of that pressure. It also served as a moment of redemption for Casemiro following his lackluster first half. The Manchester United midfielder rose between two defenders near the far post to head home a superb cross delivered by Gabriel Magalh\u00e3es from the left.<\/p>\n