Gabriel Martinelli scored a stoppage-time winner for Brazil to beat plucky Japan 2-1 in the round of 32 at the World Cup on Monday.
Kaishu Sano’s first-half opener gave Japan real hope to cause an all-time upset but Casemiro headed home an equalizer after 56 minutes.
Martinelli then struck six minutes into added time to break Japan’s hearts and ensure the five-time winners advanced beyond this tough test.
It was Brazil’s latest goal in normal time to win a World Cup game.
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Sano was perhaps fortunate to escape a second yellow card for fouling Matheus Cunha before he put Japan 1-0 up. He pinched the ball in midfield from Danilo, ran beyond Casemiro and struck a low shot that beat goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Brazil pulled level in the second half when Casemiro nodded home at the far post after a cross by Gabriel Magalhães. Minutes before, Casemiro thought he’d equalized but his close-range header was blocked on the line by Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Vinícius Júnior, who has scored four goals 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 Zion Suzuki and went off the far post.
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Casemiro left in the first minute of second-half stoppage time with what appeared to be a leg injury.
Martinelli had the final say when he collected a pass from Bruno Guimarães and curled a shot past Suzuki.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
