Match Report · Nov 15, 2026
Revenge in Singapore: Sakamoto's stoppage-time winner, Japan beats Brazil 3-2
June hurt. November healed a little of it. Japan beat Brazil 3-2 at Singapore's National Stadium on Saturday, Nov 14, five months after Brazil knocked us out of the World Cup in the Round of 32. We came out flying. Takefusa Kubo opened the scoring in the 15th minute from a Ritsu Doan through ball, and four minutes later Keito Nakamura made it 2-0 from a Shuto Nakano cross, according to AFP. Then came Vinicius Junior. He scored in the 33rd minute and again in the 75th, both long-range strikes, and it was 2-2. Brazil had the momentum and we had every reason to fear the worst. Then in stoppage time Kodai Sano's shot deflected loose, and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, back in the squad after about five years, was there to score his first goal for Japan. VAR checked it and the goal stood. AFP reports that Raphinha and Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti were both shown red cards for protesting. Zion Suzuki made big saves along the way, and 38,688 fans were in the stadium. Afterward, Moriyasu called it the best match of his eight years in charge, and said the team's response after the equalizer showed how far they've grown. Asked whether a win like this made him want to stay on, he said no: his focus is on handing the baton to the next coach. That's Moriyasu. That's two wins over Brazil in his time, after Tokyo in October 2025. One more to go: Paraguay, Tuesday, 5:10am PT.
Source: Jiji Press via nippon.com