Match Report
Japan (2nd, 5 pts) visited Brazil (1st, 7 pts) with 2 points between them. Recent form told a different story for Japan: only 16th in the league over the last five rounds despite sitting 2nd. Scoring rates set the scale: Brazil 2.33 scored and 0.33 conceded per game, Japan 2.33 and 1, with the league averaging 1.49.
Brazil carried a 6-game unbeaten run into this, having scored in 11 consecutive games. Japan carried a 10-game unbeaten run into this, having scored in 10 consecutive games.
The head-to-head ledger counts 5 games: 4 Brazil wins, 1 for Japan, 0 draws, at 3.6 goals per meeting. History gives the home side just 20% of the wins in this matchup. 80% of the meetings finished with three goals or more.
Houston Stadium, capacity 72,220, hosted the game. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Japan led 1-0 at the break, before 2 more goals closed it at 2-1.
Goal scorers
Brazil: Casemiro (56'), Gabriel Martinelli (90') · Japan: Kaishu Sano (29')
Key stats
Possession: Brazil 69% · Japan 31% · Total shots: 19-5 · On target: 7-2 · Corners: 6-2