Brazil completed a remarkable World Cup comeback after Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time strike buried Japan in their gripping last-32 clash.
After a thrilling start from the Samurai Blue, which saw Kaishu Sano break the deadlock and stun the Selecao, Carlo Ancelotti’s team changed the game.
Vinicius Jr turned it on and Casemiro headed the five-time champions level.
But as Brazil bombarded the Japanese box with crosses, a delightful pass from Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes found Arsenal’s Martinelli, whose neat finish found its way just inside the far right post with five minutes of six added on expired.
Re-live all the action from this blockbuster last-32 World Cup tie below:
Moriyasu ‘devastated’ but vows to come stronger
“I’m very disappointed that we have to leave the tournament at this stage, but the players gave their all today, as they did throughout the journey to reach this point,” Hajime Moriyasu, the Japan coach, said at the end.
“The coaching staff also worked tirelessly to support the players. Right now I’m devastated after giving everything we had, but I want to accept this result and use it to become an even stronger team.”
Neymar would have played second half of extra time – Ancelotti
“We didn’t lose our patience, we had a lot of resources on the pitch and on the bench,” Carlo Ancelotti said at full-time.
“Japan isn’t an easy opponent, it’s very organised and intense. I was saving Neymar for the extra time. He was going to enter the pitch on minute 105 if we hadn’t scored the second goal. I didn’t want to change the structure because the team was playing well.”
Casemiro hails patience
“I think it was about our calm and our patience 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,” the player of the match says.
“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.”
Martinelli reacts to his winner
“It represents so much,” the Arsenal star says. “My whole family watching, my friends 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.
“I don’t have words to describe the happiness in heart. Seeing all the Brazilian fans, my mum, my dad in the stands … I think the penny will only drop in the days ahead.”
Good omen for Brazil
Brazil have won after trailing at half-time in the World Cup for the first time since 2002, when they defeated Turkey.
And how did that tournament finish? With the Selecao as champions.
Tradition despite crushing defeat
Heartbroken they may be but the bin bags were out not long after full-time in Houston as Japan head home.
Up next for Brazil
It will be Ivory Coast or Norway in the last-16.
That match will take place in New Jersey at 9pm BST on Sunday.
