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Japan Beats Brazil 3-2 as Sakamoto Scores Late in Singapore

Japan beat Brazil 3-2 in a friendly in Singapore, with substitute Tatsuhiro Sakamoto scoring in injury time. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti and captain Raphinha were sent off for protesting. Coach Hajime Moriyasu, who leaves after one more game, said Japan can become the best in the world.

By Alistair Sterling

November 15, 20262 min read

Japan Beats Brazil 3-2 as Sakamoto Scores Late in Singapore

Japan beat Brazil 3-2 in a men's soccer friendly in Singapore on Saturday, with substitute Tatsuhiro Sakamoto scoring the winner in injury time. The result is the second time Japan, ranked 17th, has beaten sixth-ranked Brazil.

Japan took the lead early. Takefusa Kubo scored in the 15th minute and Keito Nakamura added a second four minutes later.

Brazil fight back

Brazil answered with two wonder strikes from Vinicius Junior to level the match. It looked headed for a draw until Sakamoto, a Coventry winger, struck late.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti and captain Raphinha were both sent off for protesting the goal.

Sakamoto, 30, was making his first Japan appearance in five years. "To come back like this and make a contribution in such a massive match, one we all really wanted to win, gives me so much confidence," he said.

Revenge for the World Cup

The game was the first meeting between the sides since Brazil won 2-1 in the last 32 of this year's World Cup in June. Gabriel Martinelli scored in the 95th minute in Houston to send Brazil through.

Japan midfielder Ao Tanaka was in floods of tears after a late mistake in that match. The Leeds United player said after Saturday's win that he was "calm but really happy".

"All sorts of things started coming back to me as the game got closer, and of course those frustrating memories were in my head," Tanaka said.

Japan's first win over Brazil also finished 3-2, in a friendly in Tokyo in October 2025. Under coach Hajime Moriyasu, Japan now has two wins and two losses against the five-times world champions.

Moriyasu's farewell

Moriyasu will step down after eight years in charge, following a friendly against Paraguay on Tuesday. The Japan Football Association confirmed on Friday that the game would be his last.

He was originally set to lead Japan at the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January before handing over to Under-23 coach Go Oiwa. The Asian Football Confederation has since said the tournament will be pushed back to December 2027 because of "exceptional circumstances" in the region, following Houthi attacks on the host country.

Moriyasu, Japan's longest-serving coach, praised his players after the win. "The players showed confidence and courage and dug in when they needed to dig in," he said.

He also looked ahead. "At the World Cup in the future, Japan can absolutely become the world's best," Moriyasu said.