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In the Round of 32 of the North and Central America World Cup, Brazil secured a dramatic comeback victory against Japan to advance to the Round of 16. Meanwhile, European powerhouses Germany and the Netherlands were both eliminated in the Round of 32 after losing to Paraguay and Morocco, respectively, in penalty shootouts.

Reporter Cho Min-ki has the story.

[Reporter]

It was Japan that seized the momentum first.

In the 29th minute of the first half, Sano scored the opening goal with a right-footed long-range shot.

Brazil shifted its tactics in the second half, focusing on crosses. In the 11th minute of the second half, Casemiro headed in a cross from Magalhaes to level the score. Then, in stoppage time, Martinelli scored a thrilling winning goal after receiving a precise pass from Guimaraes to decide the match.

With a 2-1 comeback victory, Brazil advanced to the Round of 16, continuing its quest for a title for the first time in 24 years since the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

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Paraguay pulled off an upset by defeating the powerhouse Germany.

Paraguay took the lead in the 42nd minute of the first half with a header from Enciso, but conceded an equalizer to Germany's Havertz in the 9th minute of the second half. The match went into extra time and eventually a penalty shootout.

With the score tied at 3-3, the shot from Germany's sixth kicker, Jonathan Tah, sailed over the crossbar. Paraguay's Canale then found the back of the net, sealing Germany's defeat.

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FIFA ranking No. 7 Morocco and No. 8 Netherlands also played a thrilling match.

The Netherlands took the lead with an opening goal from Gakpo, but Morocco's Diop scored a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time of the second half.

The match remained deadlocked through extra time, and the balance finally shifted during the penalty shootout at the fifth kicker.

Morocco's goalkeeper Bounou saved the kick from the Netherlands' Summerville, keeping the score tied at 2-2, and Saibari ended the long contest with the final kick for Morocco.

Following their semifinal appearance in the previous tournament, Morocco has now reached the Round of 16 in two consecutive World Cups.

[Video Editing: Lee So-young]