Japan secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Brazil in a friendly match in Singapore, with substitute Tatsuhiro Sakamoto scoring the winning goal in stoppage time. The match, part of the Mizuho Blue Challenge – The Kallang Football Series, saw both teams trade goals, with Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. Scoring twice before being sent off. Brazilian manager Carlo Ancelotti was also shown a red card for protesting the final goal.
The game, played in front of nearly 40,000 fans at Singapore’s National Stadium, was the second of four matches in the series, which also includes Paraguay. Japan’s win marked a small measure of revenge for their 2018 World Cup defeat, as they edged Brazil in a five-goal thriller. The result ended Brazil’s three-game unbeaten run.
This friendly followed a summer World Cup knockout tie between the two teams, where Japan had previously faced Brazil. The current match saw similar intensity, with both sides showing strong attacking play. Brazil’s early lead was overturned by Japan’s late goal, ending the match in dramatic fashion. Ancelotti and Raphinha were both sent off for dissent after the winning goal. The result highlights Japan’s growing competitiveness on the international stage.
