The expanded World Cup keeps refusing to respect reputations — and Monday's knockout games kept the drama coming across two host cities.
Brazil escape Japan
At NRG Stadium in Houston, Brazil made hard work of eliminating Japan, Al Jazeera reported. Japan struck first when Kaishu Sano curled an effort home from distance in the 29th minute, stunning the crowd and pushing the five-time champions onto the back foot. Casemiro leveled in the 56th with a powered header from Gabriel Magalhães's cross, and with extra time looming, substitute Gabriel Martinelli settled it deep in stoppage time for a 2-1 win. Brazil advance to the Round of 16 — where they will meet the winner of Ivory Coast vs. Norway in East Rutherford, New Jersey — looking far from their dominant best.
Drama in Monterrey
The night's headline tie was the one that wouldn't be decided. Before a packed Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, the Netherlands and Morocco played to a 1-1 draw after extra time, theScore reported. Cody Gakpo put the Dutch ahead in the 72nd minute, only for Morocco's Issa Diop to head home an equalizer in first-half stoppage time of regulation, sending the Atlas Lions' supporters into raptures and the match to penalties. The shootout was still being decided as this edition went to press; the winner faces Canada in the Round of 16 on July 3 in Houston.
A wide-open bracket
The results fit the pattern of a tournament that has respected no pedigree. Germany, a four-time champion, had already been bounced on penalties by Paraguay — a result the Herald covered separately — and Canada became the first side through to the last 16, edging South Africa 1-0 before their home-continent crowd. With France, Mexico and other heavyweights still to play their last-32 ties, the path to the final at this 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, looks as open as any in a generation.
