Houston ¨C Brazil survived a World Cup scare in the round of 32 when it fought back to beat Japan 2-1 after Gabriel Martinelli squeezed in a shot at the far post deep in stoppage time on Monday.
Brazil, which?will next face Norway ?or Cote d¡¯Ivoire in New Jersey on Sunday, improved after the break with Japan taking an ?early lead ?and shackling the attack of the five-time?champion?for much of the opening ?period.
Martinelli¡¯s winner in the 95th minute came at the end of a tense match and was the latest winning goal in normal time of a World Cup knockout game since 1966. Brazil players and staff ?hugged each other on the pitch after the match as the Japanese players watched on in disbelief.
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