Gabriel Martinelli broke Japan hearts with a 96th-minute winner to send Brazil through to the round of 16 of the World Cup and end Samurai Blue’s 10-game unbeaten run.
Kaishu Sano punished the five-time winners’ cheap giveaway as they once again failed to get going, much like against Morocco in their opening match, but Casemiro headed his team level after first being denied by a miraculous goal-line clearance.
Japan held a fierce resistance to repel attack after attack from Carlo Ancelotti’s side, but let their guard down for the first time in 96 minutes allowing Martinelli to slot in the winner with help of the post to prolong the dark horses’ wait for a knockout win.
Brazil quickly found out just how little room they had around Japan’s penalty area as Bruno Guimaraes was crowded out and saw his shot deflected wide, before Casemiro found Matheus Cunha and his effort was tipped around the post by Zion Suzuki.
Japan on the other hand managed to breach Seleção’s midfield line and earned a free kick for a clumsy swipe from behind by Casemiro, who earned his second booking of the tournament but let off by Daichi Kamada hitting the base of the wall.
Reluctant to take lectures from Japan’s warning, Brazil were left stunned when Danilo sloppily gave it away to Sano on halfway and the midfielder fired past Alisson and into the bottom left following a fearless sprint through the middle.
Carlo Ancelotti evidently told his side to adopt more width in the second half to pile crosses into the box towards substitute Endo, but it was Casemiro who had his header somehow cleared off the line by Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The former Manchester united midfielder wouldn’t be denied a second time, however, rising at the back post to power a bullet header past Zion Suzuki – who earlier had made a good save to deny Guimaraes – to level for Brazil after 56 minutes.
Brought back to life by the equalizer, Vinícius took the ball under his spell with a world-class first touch through the legs of his marker, danced his way into the box from the left and forced Suzuki into a wonderful save to tip his shot onto the post.
Japanese legs soon tired and were under siege for much of the closing stages, with rare instances where they managed to break away ending with Brazil easily dealing with the danger, but Samurai Blue kept their discipline to protect the box.
Yet they weren’t able to make it through eight long additional minutes and to extra time, switching off when Guimaraes collected the ball on the edge of the box and slotted in substitute Martinelli to caress home the winner right at the death.
Hajime Moriyasu’s side have charmed fans around the world with their bold, free-flowing style of football, but ultimately bet their match as Brazil avoided another embarrassing World Cup exit and squeezed through to the round of 16.
Seleção will face either the Ivory Coast or Japan’s fellow dark horses Norway, and despite grinding out the necessary result must fix their inability to properly start fixtures if they are to improve their chances of a sixth World Cup triumph.
For more detailed reports, reaction, and analysis of the World Cup as it happens, head to our website and favourite our page on OneFootball.