Gabriel Martinelli scored deep into stoppage time as Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 and book their place in the World Cup Round of 16.
In a tense Round of 32 tie at Houston's NRG Stadium, Carlo Ancelotti's side dominated the ball but were made to sweat by a disciplined, well-drilled Japan before finding a late winner.
Brazil controlled possession from the outset, but Japan struck first against the run of play.
Kaishu Sano drove down the heart of the pitch, escaped Casemiro and Gabriel Magalhães, and beat Alisson at the far post for his first senior goal in the 29th minute.
Sano's strike punished Brazil after a defensive mistake on the right, with the incident log crediting Danilo with an error leading to the goal. Japan had taken full advantage of their first real opening.
Japan led 1-0 at the break despite Brazil controlling long stretches of the first half, with Sano's finish the difference. Ancelotti was forced into an early change, sending on Endrick.
Brazil made one substitution at the interval, bringing Endrick on for the injured Lucas Paquetá. The switch added urgency to a Brazil side that had lacked a cutting edge before half-time.
The equaliser arrived just after the hour. During a spell of pressure, Gabriel Magalhães received the ball on the left and crossed into the box for Casemiro, who arrived in the six-yard area and headed powerfully into the net.
Brazil poured forward in search of a winner and twice came close.
Vinícius Júnior nutmegged a defender, jinked left and angled a shot for the far post, but Zion Suzuki somehow got a hand to it and turned the effort off the upright.
Japan dug in and threatened to force extra time.
A half opening fell to Endrick, but even after 93 minutes Japan were organised enough to throw bodies at the shot and block it, with the resulting corner cleared by Fabinho, who had replaced the injured Casemiro.
Then came the decisive blow. Japan lost the ball deep, Bruno Guimarães feinted for a shot and slid in substitute Martinelli, who opened up his body and rolled it in to send Brazil to the Round of 16.
It was the sixth of six minutes of stoppage time when Martinelli took an incisive pass from Guimarães and used two touches to settle it, Suzuki only getting a piece of the close-range shot before it dinked off the post and over the line.
The numbers underlined Brazil's superiority, even if the scoreline remained narrow until the end. They finished with 19 shots to Japan's five and 69% possession, but found Suzuki and a packed defence a stubborn obstacle for much of the night.
For Japan, it was another agonising near miss on the biggest stage.
The Japanese remain without a win in their World Cup knockout history, while Brazil have now won at least one knockout match at every World Cup for nine tournaments running.
