Don Carlo’s big-game magic sends Brazil past valiant Japan into the round of 16

Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil samba cruised into the last 16 after Gabriel Martinelli’s last-gasp winner sealed a 2-1 comeback victory over a well-structured and spirited Japan side in Houston on Monday (June 29). In a game that teetered between control and history, Brazil finally found their rhythm when it mattered most and turned a late push into progress.

2026 FIFA World Cup Brazil vs. Japan: The most important

It was far from straightforward, though, and for long periods Brazil were forced to confront their own ineffectiveness against a disciplined opponent who refused to fold. Organized and alert, Japan absorbed waves of pressure and waited patiently for their moment, while Brazil’s early dominance in possession masked a lack of edge in the final third.

Even so, it was felt all the time that the game was slowly settling into the Brazilian pace. The question was not whether the chances would come, but whether Ancelotti’s side could sharpen their execution before time ran out. That tension defined the first half, which briefly and brilliantly belonged to Japan.

JAPAN’S LONG RANGER STUNNED BRAZIL IN THE FIRST HALF

Japan’s Kaishu Sano scored his first goal (Photo Reuters)

For all of Brazil’s dominance in possession, it was Japan who struck first in a game that was always perfectly balanced. Despite being pinned down for long spells, Samurai Blue looked sharp as he soaked up the pressure. So the Samurai Blues punished a costly mistake by Danilo in the 29th minute when Kaishu Sano pounced on a loose pass from the defender.

He drove unopposed from midfield, kept his composure to finish neatly past Alisson from long range to silence the Brazilian back line. It remained Japan’s only shot on goal in the first half, but it was enough to send them into the break with the upper hand.

Meanwhile, Brazil controlled the ball but lacked a breakthrough. Bruno Guimaraes saw an early effort blocked, while Matheus Cunha tried his luck from distance more than once, only to find Zion Suzuki comfortably equalizing each attempt. Japan’s defensive shape held firm, compact and disciplined, frustrating Brazil’s rhythm and forcing growing impatience in the final third, with Lucas Paqueta visibly urging more movement up front.

DON CARLO RAISES AN EYEBROW

However, after the break, don Carlo made his presence felt. Brazil came back with more urgency, pressing higher, faster, sharper – turning control into chaos for Japan’s backline. The pressure began to mount as Casemiro gained more and more influence in advanced positions and repeatedly came into the box as Ancelotti’s adjustments tilted the game further south.

The equalizer eventually came thanks to persistence and strength. A dangerous delivery sent panic into the Japanese area and Casemiro – always the man at this point – rose to turn the tide and his finish restored parity after earlier seeing a header clear off the line. From there, Brazil surged forward with intent, with Vinicius Junior denied a superb goal by Suzuki’s brilliant save against the post, and Japan got deeper into the low block. Don Carlo Ancelotti brings his big game magic to the Brazilian sideline. (Photo by Reuters)

Ancelotti continued to twist the narrative from the touchline, introducing Endrick for the injured Paquet and Martinelli for Cunha as Brazil’s attacking waves were relentless. Bruno Guimaraes pulled the strings and opened up four clear-cut chances as the pressure began to suffocate, Japan holding on amid a storm of yellow shirts and narrowly missing.

With the match seemingly headed for extra time, Brazil found their defining moment. Guimaraes, the master orchestrator, slipped a precise pass into the Japanese box, where Martinelli arrived with ice in his veins to curl home the winner in the 96th minute – tension turned to eruption and belief in qualification.

Japan threw everything forward at the worst moments but Brazil held firm to complete the turnaround. In the end, the numbers told their own story: Brazil finished with 1.72 xG to Japan’s 0.23, a reflection of the sustained pressure that finally started to count.

Brave, organized and disciplined, Japan pushed Brazil much deeper than expected. But as the stage grew, Ancelotti’s touch and Brazil’s talent combined at the perfect time to send them facing either Ivory Coast or Norway in the last 16.

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Published on:

30 Jun 2026 01:02 IST