Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 with a winner in the sixth minute of injury time while two European powerhouses crashed out in penalty shootouts in a roller-coaster day of elimination action.Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscriptionGet exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading.There are three more huge knockout games today, so watch along on our NBC News live blog.
World Cup RecapJapan still hasn’t won a knockout match at any World Cup.Its woes continued yesterday in Houston against Brazil, a five-time champion looking for its first title since 2002.
Kaishu Sano gave the Samurai Blue the lead in the 29th minute with his first international goal, swooping past a lumbering Casemiro before firing low to goalkeeper Alisson’s right from the edge of the box.At halftime and a goal up, Japan was on course for the biggest result in its history.But Casemiro got his revenge when he headed in at the far post in the second half as Japan defended deeply and soaked up wave after wave of attacks.
At 34 years and 126 days, Casemiro became Brazil’s second-oldest scorer at World Cups, after Bebeto.Coach Carlo Ancelotti brought on winger Gabriel Martinelli, not Neymar, and it was the Arsenal man who scored the winner after Japan conceded possession on the edge of its own penalty box.Brazil will face the winner of today’s clash between Ivory Coast and Norway.Elsewhere, two European heavyweights were knocked out.
First, Paraguay upset Germany 4-3 on penalties to earn the biggest upset of the World Cup so far.It was the first time that Germany had lost a penalty shootout in the World Cup, having won its previous four (against France in 1982, Mexico in 1986, England in 1990 and Argentina in 2006).
The match ended 1-1 after extra time, with Paraguay going in front when Julio Enciso scored a header late in the first half.Kai Havertz equalized in the 52nd minute for four-time champion Germany.
Gustavo Gomez of Paraguay celebrates after Jose Canale sc...