Vinícius Júnior hauled Brazil back from two goals down, only for Tatsuhiro Sakamoto to win it for Japan in the first minute of stoppage time. Brazil captain Raphinha was sent off a minute later as Saturday’s friendly ended 3–2 at Singapore’s National Stadium.
Takefusa Kubo ran onto captain Ritsu Doan’s through ball and fired low with his left foot in the 15th minute. Pedro Morisco saved from Daizen Maeda three minutes later, but Japan struck again in the 19th. From the right, Shuto Nakano crossed, and Keito Nakamura fired low past Morisco.
Zion Suzuki saved from Raphinha and Estêvão before Bruno Guimarães found Vinícius outside the box in the 33rd minute. The Real Madrid forward whipped a right-footed shot into the top corner, cutting Japan’s lead to 2–1 at the break.
🚨🌎 | GOAL: KEITO NAKAMURA DOUBLES THE LEAD FOR JAPAN! WOW! 🇯🇵 Japan 2-0 Brazil 🇧🇷 https://t.co/Gy3MtO9Fz8
— TheGoalsZone (@TheGoalsZone) November 14, 2026
Brazil draw level, then Japan strike
Gabriel Magalhães headed wide from close range in the 69th minute. Six minutes later, Brazil worked a short corner to Vinícius, who cut inside and drove a low shot in off both posts. Guimarães supplied the pass for both Brazil goals.
Endrick hit the bar as Brazil chased a winner, and João Gomes fired wide in the 88th minute. The winner came at the other end. Sakamoto, who had replaced Doan, lashed a right-footed shot into the top-left corner from close range at 90+1. The Coventry City winger had been recalled to the Japan squad after more than five years away.
⚠️🇯🇵🇧🇷 JAPÓN LE GANÓ 3-2 A BRASIL EN UN AMISTOSO CON UN GOL AL 90’. https://t.co/7YGrWio18P
— Ataque Futbolero (@AtaqueFutbolero) November 14, 2026
Brazil protested that there had been a foul in the build-up. At 90+2, referee Jansen Foo showed Raphinha a straight red card for violent conduct.
Read more: Haaland’s strike against Brazil shortlisted for World Cup goal award
Japan’s second win over Brazil
Brazil knocked Japan out of the World Cup in June, when Gabriel Martinelli scored a stoppage-time winner in Houston. Japan had claimed their first victory in the fixture in October 2025, coming from two down to win 3–2 in Tokyo. Nakamura scored that night too.
Hajime Moriyasu’s side arrived unbeaten in four matches since the World Cup, with wins over Uruguay, Venezuela and New Zealand and a shootout victory over Ecuador after a goalless draw.
Ayase Ueda scored four times across those games but missed the Singapore trip through injury, along with Kaoru Mitoma and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Koki Machida returned from a long injury layoff to start against Brazil.
Read more: Why the Asian Cup was pushed back a year
Japan face Paraguay on Tuesday, 17 November, after Brazil play hosts Singapore in their first senior meeting. Both matches are at the National Stadium.
