Gabriel Martinelli was Brazil’s hero as they edged past Japan into the last 16 of the World Cup and his late goal set a tournament record in the process.
The clash in Houston was one of the better games of the world Cup so far, with drama until the death.
Japan took a first half lead as Kaishu Sano burst through the middle of midfield and slotted home on 29 minutes.
Carlo Ancelotti managed to get his team going at the break and Brazil were level just before the hour-mark thanks to a header from Casemiro.
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The South American powerhouses were then pushing for a winner and eventually found it, but only shortly before the final whistle.
Arsenal forward Martinelli came off the bench to produce a smart finish in stoppage time and book Brazil’s spot against Norway or Ivory Coast next.
The strike from Martinelli was late – bang on 95m 00s – in fact it was the latest ever winning goal at the World Cup scored before extra time in a knockout match.
We’ve seen plenty of stoppage time winners in knockout games before, but none as late as Martinelli’s.
Memorably Francesco Totti broke Australian hearts when he netted the winner for Italy in Germany in 2006.
The Roma legend scored from the penalty spot on 94m 26s in Kaiserslautern to make it 1-0 to Italy and book their spot in the quarter-finals.
Martinelli said after scoring the crucial goal: ‘We were fighting all through the game, we wanted to keep ball possession. At some point we know we would get close to goal.
‘Japan close the defence really nice but we did a good job, really controlled the match and finally generated the winning opportunity.’
He added: ‘It represents so much. My whole family watching, my friend at home, our people celebrating. I’m so elated and really proud and it gives us confidence to move forward. We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground and good things can happen.’
On Caze TV, he said: ‘I don’t even have words to describe the joy in my heart seeing the Brazilian people happy with the qualification. My family, wife, parents, my friends… I can’t even explain what I’m feeling right now.
‘I think it will only sink in after a while.’
Casemiro, who was criticised for Japan’s goal but redeemed himself with Brazil’s first, added: ‘I think it was about our calm and our patience and pressuring and pressuring a team that was playing a very low block. We believed the time would come, our confidence and our pressure were key for this match.
‘I feel many emotions right now. When you score a goal you ask God to light you at that moment. It’s really a lot of emotions at the same time.
‘You have to really value the entire group. Martinelli with the winning goal. That’s the path to win the World Cup, you have to value the group.’