Gabriel Martinelli scores late in injury time to help Brazil beat Japan 2-1 at World Cup
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Brazil's Gabriel Magalhaes (3), left, heads for the ball with Japan's Wataru Endo (6) during the World Cup round of 32 football match between Brazil and Japan in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Smith)
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Brazil's Casemiro (5) celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup round of 32 football match between Brazil and Japan in Houston, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
HOUSTON (AP) — Gabriel Martinelli scored the winning goal late in injury time to give five-time champion Brazil a 2-1 win over Japan in the round of 32 at the World Cup on Monday.
Martinelli, who had come on as a second-half substitute, scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time as the match appeared to be headed to extra time.
Brazil will next face either the Ivory Coast or Norway on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in the round of 16.
Casemiro had earlier equalised on a header in the 56th minute off an assist from Gabriel Magalhães after just missing another chance two minutes earlier.
The shot sailed just out of reach of the outstretched hand of Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and into the net.
Kaishu Sano stole a misplaced pass at midfield and took it down the field before a right-footed shot from above the half circle put Japan ahead in the 29th minute.
Vinícius Júnior, who has scored four goals so far in this year’s tournament, had a chance to put Brazil on top in the 58th minute, but his shot from the left box was deflected by Suzuki and went off the far post.
Casemiro left in the first minute of second-half stoppage time with what appeared to be a leg injury.
Brazil had two chances to even the score early in the second half before breaking through. On the first one, Suzuki blocked a header from Bruno Guimarães in the 52nd minute. Soon after, Casemiro’s header bounced off a defender’s head and Suzuki’s face. Suzuki finished with four saves.
Japan has never won a knockout match at the World Cup.
The win was Brazil’s 12th in 15 games against Japan.
The teams have also played to two draws, while Japan got its first win in the series in a friendly in Tokyo in October.
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