'I was saving Neymar for extra time': Ancelotti

Brazil kept their Mission Hexa alive with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Japan in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 on Monday, but the sight many were waiting for never arrived as Neymar remained on the bench.

The 33-year-old, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, had made an emotional return to the national team in their final group match against Scotland last week, coming on in the 76th minute for a 14-minute cameo after a lengthy absence.

Against Japan, however, Carlo Ancelotti resisted the temptation to turn to Neymar for a solution even as Brazil trailed, laboured and were pushed to the brink by an organised and intense Japanese side.

“I was saving Neymar for extra time,” Ancelotti said after the match. “He was going to enter the pitch on minute 105 if we hadn’t scored the second goal. I didn’t want to change the structure because the team was playing well.”

That structure was tested heavily. Japan stunned Brazil in the 29th minute when Kaishu Sano intercepted Danilo’s misplaced pass, drove toward goal and fired past Alisson Becker, sending the Samurai Blue supporters into delirium.

Japan then delivered a first-half defensive masterclass, closing spaces, breaking up passes and shackling Brazil’s attack.

Brazil returned after the break with greater urgency and finally equalised in the 56th minute, Casemiro heading in at the far post from Gabriel Magalhaes’ cross after missing a golden chance moments earlier.

Vinicius Jr nearly completed the turnaround with a mazy run, only for Zion Suzuki to brilliantly push his effort onto the post.

But Brazil eventually found their escape route in the 95th minute. Bruno Guimaraes slipped the ball through to Gabriel Martinelli, who squeezed home from close range to seal the latest winning goal in normal time of a World Cup knockout match since 1966.

“I can’t explain how I feel,” Martinelli said. “It’ll only really sink in after a while.”

The result denied Japan a first-ever World Cup knockout win and sent Brazil into the last 16, where they will face Norway or Ivory Coast in New Jersey on Sunday.