Brazil 2-1 Japan ratings: Guimaraes leads late, Kamada off the pace | OneFootball

In Houston, Brazil beat Japan 2-1 as Bruno Guimaraes set the tempo and teed up Gabriel Martinelli’s winner in the 90+5 minute, while Daichi Kamada drifted out of the contest.

L'Équipe highlights Guimaraes’ off-ball leadership, his four shots and two tackles reflecting a driving display, in contrast to Kamada’s limited influence in midfield.

Japan threatened first, the centre-forward heading wide from a corner on 27 minutes, then the Mainz midfielder punished Danilo’s stray pass, burst past Casemiro and finished crisply across goal for 1-0 on 29.

Kamada was booked for a foul on Guimaraes on 45. Danilo’s cross drew a Guimaraes header that Suzuki saved on 52, before the Arsenal man’s superb centre found Casemiro for the equaliser on 56. On 58, Suzuki touched the Real Madrid winger’s solo effort on to the post.

The Japanese striker later shot at Alisson on 64. Brazil’s number nine, after three goals in two games, had only 27 touches before Martinelli came on at 66, then swept in Guimaraes’ pass for 2-1 to send Brazil into the last 16. It was Guimaraes’ third assist of the World Cup.

The Arsenal player had 144 touches and dominated aerially from the back, and the Real Madrid winger tormented the left despite no goal return. Japan’s front man toiled on scant service, with 22 touches and 13 losses. Danilo, 34, started for injured Wesley, gave the ball away before the opener and looked jittery.

Source: L'Équipe