Brazil down a defiant Japan

A goal deep in injury time, saw Brazil edge out a defiant Japan 2-1 to qualify for the Last 16 at the FIFA World Cup.

Japan dominated the first half and took a well deserved lead only to see their campaign end in heartbreaking fashion with the experience of the Brazilians and the craftiness of their coach turning the match around.

Kaishu Sano gave Japan the lead in the 29th minute with Casemiro heading home the equaliser in the 56th.

Brazil kept pushing and were rewarded with the winning goal through Gabriel Martinelli deep into added time as Japan’s dream came to an end. The five-time champions will face either Cote d’Ivoire or Norway in in the Round of 16 on Sunday.

With the Brazil fans’ drums providing a constant rhythmic backdrop, Carlo Ancelotti’s side were on top early on in front of a crowd of 68,777,

Images of Neymar on the bench popped up on the big screens, the noise from the Brazil fans going up another notch.

Defensive midfielder Sano was booked for crunching in on Vinicius Junior, then Brazilian attacker Matheus Cunha forced goalkeeper Zion Suzuki to turn the ball wide.

Japan, who beat Brazil 3-2 in October in a home friendly for their first victory over the South Americans, then enjoyed a spell in the ascendancy.

Just before the half-hour mark Hajime Moriyasu’s team took the lead, and it stemmed from an error by Danilo as he gave the ball away with a sloppy pass.

Sano, one of four changes from Japan’s 1-1 draw with Sweden at the end of the group phase, picked the ball up in the centre circle and got away from the 34-year-old Casemiro – who was on a booking – with ease.

Sano, who plays for Mainz in Germany, drove upfield before sweeping the ball past goalkeeper Alisson. It was his first goal for his country.

Now the Brazil supporters were edgy, groaning when a move broke down or a pass went backwards.

Brazil, whose last FIFA World Cup triumph was in 2002, looked unconvincing at the back and ineffective in attack.

Ancelotti was forced into a change at the break, an emotional Lucas Paqueta limping off in distress with the attacking midfielder replaced by 19-year-old striker Endrick.

Japan, who thrashed Tunisia and held the Netherlands and Sweden to reach the last 32, had Brazil where they wanted them.

Brazil ramped up the pressure to start the second half and Japan defender Takehiro Tomiyasu twice kept the ball off the line, not that he knew much about it.

Brazil were soon level, Arsenal defender Gabriel sending in an inviting cross for midfielder Casemiro to head in unmarked at the back post.

The danger man Vinicius, well stifled up until then, turned the Japan defence inside out and stabbed the ball towards Suzuki, who directed it onto the post.

It was all Brazil as they pushed for a late winner, with Vinicius – who scored four times in the group stage – increasingly in the thick of it.

Then came Martinelli’s late intervention, with the Arsenal winger slotting home Bruno Guimaraes pass to send the Brazil fans into wild celebrations.