Sakamoto’s first Japan goal sinks Brazil as late protests bring red cards

Japan had already spent a two-goal advantage, surrendered to two exceptional long-range strikes from Vinícius Júnior. Sakamoto’s intervention meant the final word belonged instead to Japan’s substitutes—before Brazil’s protests brought red cards for coach Carlo Ancelotti and captain Raphinha. Neither dismissal helped Japan score its winner: both came afterward, and Raphinha had already been substituted.⁠4⁠27

The winning passage was a particularly strong argument for Hajime Moriyasu’s use of his bench. Kaishu Sano delivered a low ball from the left; Koki Ogawa could not finish it, and Kodai Sano’s follow-up struck an opponent. The loose ball reached Sakamoto, who supplied the finish that the preceding attempts had lacked.⁠27

All four Japanese players involved in that sequence had entered as substitutes. Kaishu Sano replaced Takefusa Kubo in the 62nd minute. Ogawa and Sakamoto arrived in the 72nd, with Sakamoto taking over from captain Ritsu Doan. Kodai Sano entered only in the 86th. Moriyasu made nine substitutions overall; his late changes did more than preserve the team’s energy. They won the match.⁠21

Doan had been central to Japan’s fast start. In the 15th minute, Daizen Maeda kept possession in Japan’s half and Doan quickly released Kubo. The forward drove from around halfway into the penalty area and beat Pedro Morisco with a low left-footed shot.⁠27⁠4

Four minutes later, Doan sent Shuto Nakano down the right. The defender’s cutback ran past Kubo, who let it travel through to Keito Nakamura for Japan’s second. Between those goals, Maeda had threatened another, seeing Morisco save his first effort before putting the rebound wide. Brazil were not merely behind; Japan were repeatedly finding ways through them.⁠27

Vinícius changed the match’s direction in the 33rd minute. Shortly after Zion Suzuki denied Estêvão one-on-one, Bruno Guimarães supplied the Real Madrid forward outside the area. His right-footed shot flew into the top corner, reducing Japan’s lead to 2-1 at halftime.⁠4⁠27

The equalizer was just as striking. In the 75th minute, Vinícius cut inside from a short corner on the left and shot right-footed from distance again. The ball struck both posts before crossing the line. Brazil then nearly completed the turnaround when Endrick, Raphinha’s replacement, hit the crossbar from near the edge of the area around the 80th minute. Japan’s response came through Sakamoto rather than a retreat toward a draw.⁠4⁠27

Moriyasu later acknowledged that he had feared a third Brazilian goal after the equalizer. What satisfied him was that his players continued fighting for victory. He called it the best match of his eight years in charge—a substantial assessment of a friendly, but understandable given both the opponent and the way Japan recovered control of the result.⁠31

Brazil argued that João Gomes had been fouled before Sakamoto scored. Referee Jansen Foo Chuan Hui allowed the goal to stand. Ancelotti entered the field during the protests, and both he and Raphinha received red cards at 90+2, a minute after the winner. The alleged foul remains Brazil’s complaint, not an independently established finding that the goal was illegal.⁠14⁠6⁠27

There is an important error to clear away from the match’s aftermath. Thairath Online’s November 14 headline described Japan beating a ten-man Brazil. But the Associated Press and The Guardian, also reporting on November 14, said Raphinha had already been replaced; the official Japan Football Association team sheet records Endrick coming on for him in the 71st minute. Brazil still had eleven active players when Japan scored, and the subsequent dismissal of a substituted player did not reduce that number. Nor did the dismissal of the coach.⁠17⁠4⁠11⁠21

Ancelotti said the referee had explained his dismissal as a failure to control the bench, with players entering the field. That is the coach’s account of the explanation, rather than a published disciplinary ruling. He also argued that the official lacked the experience to manage the match and that his handling had affected the result.⁠52

His assessment was not wholly defensive. Ancelotti acknowledged Brazil’s poor beginning, said his side had played well for 70 minutes and praised Japan’s organization, intensity and efforts to prevent counterattacks. Brazil had recovered sufficiently to pursue victory. That does not erase the two early goals conceded, or establish that the third should have been disallowed.⁠52

Raphinha apologized for his dismissal but alleged several refereeing errors: a foul and handball before Japan’s opener, a penalty that should have been awarded to him, and a foul on Gomes before the winner. He acknowledged that the handball decision might be understood differently under current rules. His description of video assistance validating the winner is also his account; the precise review process is not independently established here.⁠7

The confrontation continued after the final whistle. CNA reported that some Brazil team members tried to confront the officials, while YallaKora reported security intervening to separate them. No further disciplinary sanction arising from those scenes is established by the available reporting.⁠31⁠15

Japan’s victory was its second over Brazil in sixteen senior meetings, its second in thirteen months and its first outside Japan. The first came in Tokyo on October 14, 2025, also by 3-2, when Japan overturned a two-goal halftime deficit. Brazil then won the encounter with greater competitive consequences: the World Cup round-of-32 match in Houston on June 29, 2026. Kaishu Sano put Japan ahead, but Brazil recovered to win 2-1 with a goal five minutes into added time. Singapore offers sporting revenge, not a reversal of that elimination.⁠31⁠4⁠36

Brazil, meanwhile, are rebuilding toward 2030 under Ancelotti, who stayed after their subsequent World Cup exit against Norway. The JFA’s scouting report, relaying Brazilian federation figures, put this tour squad’s average age at 23.6, down from 29.6 at the World Cup; fifteen of the twenty-six selected players were 23 or younger. Only four starters against Japan had also started at the World Cup. Morisco, 22, was making his second Brazil appearance. This was a team being tested, although experimentation does not make its defensive failures irrelevant.⁠36⁠19

Japan’s transition is more immediate. Moriyasu had intended to leave after the Asian Cup campaign, but the tournament’s postponement changed that plan. Asked after the victory whether he would stay, he said no. His successor and the precise handover date are not established in the available reporting.⁠31

Both sides play again on Tuesday, November 17: Japan against Paraguay, Brazil against Singapore at the same stadium. SPORT, citing Brazilian federation sources, reported that Raphinha would miss the Singapore game and Ancelotti would be barred from the bench. The precise disciplinary provision and any additional punishment remain unconfirmed here. Japan’s next test is whether it can sustain this performance; Brazil’s is to turn a comeback into something more durable than a grievance.⁠31⁠45⁠52