Brazil beats Japan, treats Houston to Jogo Bonito
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José de Jesus Ortiz, Founder & Editor in Chief
- June 29, 2026
Casemiro's Golazo helped Brazil mount comeback
HOUSTON – After a disappointingly stunning first half, Brazil broke out its signature Jogo Bonito on Monday afternoon to remain alive in the 2026 World Cup, reminding Japan and the rest of the world why they call soccer The Beautiful Game.
With Vinicius Jr. terrorizing down the left wing with a collection of feints and runs into the box, Casemiro delivering a Golazo and Gabriel Martinelli scoring the winner, Brazil overwhelmed Japan for a come-from-behind 2-1 victory to advance into the Round of 16.
As Japan desperately tried to hold on to force extra time at Houston Stadium, Martinelli delivered the winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time before a raucous and appreciative yellow-clad, sellout crowd of 68,777.
Kaishu Sano put Japan ahead
Brazil dominated possession throughout, but Japan countered just enough to take a surprising lead in the first half. Capitalizing on Danilo’s disastrous pass back to the middle of the pitch. Kaishu Sano stepped in front of the pass attempt to holding midfielder Casemiro just inside Brazil’s half.
As Casemiro tracked behind with all the urgency of a Sunday cruise down Main St., Sano raced through chunks of space up the middle of the pitch. Once a Brazilian defender finally stepped up to him, Sano fired a shot into the left corner from just outside the 18-yard box to give Japan a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute.
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Martinelli, who was subbed into the match in the 66th minute, delivered the decisive goal, but Casemiro scored the Golazo of the match.
Japanese American goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who was born in Newark, New Jersey, made a sensational save on Bruno Guimaraes’ header in the 52nd minute to maintain the 1-0 lead. Japan escaped another menacing threat in the 54th minute on Casemiro’s header just when it appeared that the ball would finally roll into the net.
Golazo!
Japan wasn’t so lucky in the 56th minute. Vinicius passed back to Gabriel Magalhaes, who swung a left-footed cross from just outside the left side of the 18-yard box. Casemiro took care of the rest, leaping for a powerful header from inside the right side of the six-yard box to tie the score at 1 in the 56th minute.
Brazil kept pressing Japan the rest of the way before Martinelli put Brazil on top, eliciting an ear-piercing roar through Houston Stadium.
Brazil, which hasn’t won a World Cup since the 2002 tournament held in Japan and South Korea, will now prepare to play on July 5 at New York-New Jersey. The Brazilians will face the winner of the Round of 32 match that will be held Tuesday afternoon at Dallas Stadium between Norway and the Ivory Coast.
José de Jesus Ortiz
Founder & Editor in Chief
Award-winning writer Jose de Jesus Ortiz, a former lead sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has covered Major League Baseball since 1997 in Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, New York and Houston. He was the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
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