Houston. The heartbreak was all too familiar for Japan at the World Cup.

The country's national team hung in until the very end on Monday but was eliminated from the tournament, the third straight time Japan has had the lead in the knockout round and lost. This year, it was Brazil 2- 1 over five-time champion Brazil on a late goal in injury time.

With Brazil trailing for much of the game and with extra time looming, Gabriel Martinelli came through in a big, big way at the World Cup.

Martinelli entered the game as a second-half substitute and put an end to Japan’s near-upset on Monday, scoring the winning goal late in injury time to give five-time champion Brazil a 2-1 victory and a spot in the round of 16.

The result was a showcase of Brazil’s Italian connections. Martinelli holds dual citizenship in Italy and Brazil, and the man who made the decision to change the team’s makeup was Carlo Ancelotti, an Italian who is the first European to coach the South American country’s national team.

“Above all else, we wanted to freshen up the field because Martinelli has a lot of intensity as a player,” Ancelotti said through a translator. “When he goes in the match, he’s always in his top game.”

Brazil will next face either the Ivory Coast or Norway on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in the round of 16.

Casemiro had earlier equalized for Brazil on a header in the 56th minute off an assist from Gabriel Magalhães after just missing another chance two minutes earlier. The shot sailed just out of the reach of the outstretched hand of Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and into the net.

Kaishu Sano stole a misplaced pass at midfield and took it down the field before a right-footed shot from above the half circle put Japan ahead in the 29th minute.

Disappointment Continues
After four previous losses in such matches at World Cups, Japan is still searching for its first knockout victory.

“We were not able to achieve our goal this time, but then we can aim for the next World Cup or maybe even one after that,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said through a translator. “We should work toward that goal, which is what we’ve been doing.”

Four years ago, Japan led early but eventually fell to Croatia on penalty kicks in the round of 16. The Samurai Blue suffered a similar fate in the same round in 2018 when they led Belgium 2-0 in the second half but lost 3-2 on a stoppage-time goal.

“I don’t think history would be gentle to us,” Moriyasu said. “But if we are to overcome today, maybe we will see a time where history will change.”

Things looked good early for Japan on Monday. Kaishu Sano put his team ahead in the 29th minute, but Casemiro equalized on a header in the 56th, and Gabriel Martinelli scored the winning goal late in injury time.

Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki finished with four saves. He declined to answer questions in English after the tough loss despite a strong showing against one of the best teams in the world.

Japan has only beaten Brazil once in 15 matches, with two games ending in draws. The lone victory came in a friendly in October.

“The gap between us is closing now,” Moriyasu said. “Brazil is a top-tier team and we’re definitely approaching that level.”

Then he mentioned the loss in Qatar four years ago before adding: “We have to up our game.”

Moriyasu said he told the players after the match that they should remember the frustration they felt in that moment and use it to help them grow. Then he took the blame for the loss.

“To win the title was our dream and our goal, and we couldn’t achieve that,” he said. “As a head coach, I told them that I was really sorry that I was not good enough to lead them to that level to achieve that goal.”

The loss didn't seem to dampen the mood back home, where fans gathered to watch the match at a viewing site near Tokyo Tower despite it ending at around 4 a.m. local time.

“I want to say thanks to the players, who never gave up, no matter how tough the situation may be,” Miyu Hashiguchi said in Japanese after watching the match. “They encouraged me to take on the challenge in life.”

Ryutaro Mori, a 20-year-old student, was encouraged by Japan’s showing against a team of Brazil’s caliber.

“It means a lot for Japan," Mori said, "that even against a higher-ranked team, we scored the first goal.”

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