Japan beat Brazil 3-2 at the National Stadium on Saturday 14 November, with substitute Tatsuhiro Sakamoto scoring the winner in added time and Singaporean referee Jansen Foo sending off Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti and forward Raphinha in the row that followed.
A crowd of 38,688 watched the second of four Mizuho Blue Challenge friendlies at The Kallang, and Japan’s second win over Brazil in 16 meetings gave them a measure of revenge. Brazil had beaten them 2-1 in the round of 32 at the World Cup in June.
Kubo and Nakamura strike early
Japan were ahead inside a quarter of an hour. Ritsu Doan slipped a pass in behind and Takefusa Kubo, through on goal, beat goalkeeper Pedro Morisco at his near post with his left foot in the 15th minute.
Daizen Maeda had a shot saved and put the rebound wide two minutes later, but the second goal came in the 19th. Shuto Nakano crossed from the right and Keito Nakamura slotted past Pedro to make it 2-0.
Brazil had gone close through Estevao, who curled wide in the sixth minute, and Zion Suzuki denied the winger again when he was clear on goal. Moments later Vinicius Jr hit a long-range shot into the top corner to make it 2-1 in the 33rd minute. Ancelotti was furious when Raphinha appeared to be pushed in the box in the 43rd minute and no penalty was given.
Vinicius levels, Sakamoto wins it
Suzuki saved from Raphinha early in the second half, and clear chances were scarce until the 75th minute, when Vinicius curled another shot in from the left, off the post, for 2-2. Endrick, on as a substitute, hit the bar four minutes later.
In added time a deflected shot dropped to Sakamoto, who lobbed the goalkeeper. It was his first goal for Japan. Brazil’s bench protested a foul in the build-up, and Foo showed red to Ancelotti and to Raphinha, who had already been substituted.
Some Brazil players tried to confront the officials after the final whistle. Ancelotti said afterwards that Foo sent him off because he could not control his bench, but he was otherwise content: “We played what we wanted to do, to play with intensity.”
For Hajime Moriyasu, who confirmed he will not stay on, it was the best match of his eight years in charge. Speaking through a translator, he said his players had overcome what they could not manage against Brazil at the World Cup, and that he was “really satisfied” with how they played.
What it means for the Lions
Brazil stay at The Kallang for Tuesday 17 November, when they face Singapore at 6pm in the first half of a double header. Japan play Paraguay at 9.10pm, without Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada, who started on Saturday and has left the squad for club reasons.
Gavin Lee’s side lost 4-1 to Paraguay on Friday, so Tuesday is a second South American test in four days. Brazil came without Alisson, Ederson, Marquinhos and Gabriel Martinelli, but still started Raphinha, Vinicius, Gabriel and Bruno Guimaraes against Japan.
