NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Soccer isn’t played with the same strict clock as most other sports, but Brazil has come as close as the sport allows.
After a fine passing display from the five-time World Cup champions, Gabriel Martinelli found the back of the net in the 96th minute to give Brazil a 2-1 victory over Japan.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
Brazil’s Gabriel Martinelli celebrates with teammates after scoring the team’s second goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match against Japan at Houston Stadium. (Michael Regan/FIFA via Getty Images)
Brazil entered Monday’s round of 16 against Japan as heavy favorites, but it was the Japanese who struck first. Kaishu Sano scored for Japan, a team that finished second in Group F after drawing against the Netherlands and Sweden and beating Tunisia 4-0. So it was not an overmatched opponent despite the huge difference in World Cup history.
CANADA SCORES IN 92ND MINUTE TO CLEAR FIRST WORLD CUP ELIMINATION VICTORY AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA
The goal came from a Brazil error near midfield. Sano collected a misplaced pass, carried the ball himself and fired a right-footed shot from just outside the box past Alisson to give Japan a shocking lead in the 29th minute.
Brazil controlled the action in the second half and it looked like an equalizer was imminent. That proved to be the case, as Casemiro equalized with a header from inside the box just over ten minutes into the second half.
Brazil fans celebrate during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between Brazil and Japan at Houston Stadium. (Torbjörn Tande/DeFodi Images)
Casemiro almost tied the game two minutes earlier, but he didn’t waste his next chance. Gabriel Magalhães sent a ball into the box and Casemiro placed his header just beyond the reach of Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki to finally break through.
Brazil nearly took the lead almost immediately. Vinícius Júnior, who was one of the stars of the tournament for Brazil, broke free on the left side of the box in the 58th minute, but Suzuki had a shot enough to send it to the far post.
OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
Gabriel Martinelli, who came on in the second half, finally delivered the moment Brazil spent almost the entire match chasing. He received the ball in the left channel, touched the ball and calmly sent a low shot from the far post.
Japanese players react after losing to Brazil in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match at Houston Stadium. (Sean M. Haffey/FIFA)
Brazil continued to control the game throughout the second half, but simply failed to score the go-ahead goal. That changed at the very end, when Brazil scored the goal they needed to advance to the round of 16.
Brazil now awaits the winner of Ivory Coast-Norway for its opponent in the round of 16. Japan, meanwhile, still failed to secure their first victory in the World Cup round of 16, but it had the five-time champions sweating until the final seconds.
