Carlo Ancelotti suffered his second defeat with the Brazilian national team, as his team squandered a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Japan in an international friendly match.
The manner of the loss will worry the veteran Italian. After watching his first-team squad secure an impressive 5-0 win in South Korea on Friday, Ancelotti opted to make eight changes, sticking to his pre-match pledge to give those on the sidelines a chance to impress.
They failed the test because, despite a strong first-half performance, they succumbed in Tokyo as Japan overcame some indifferent form to record a 21st unbeaten home match and claim their first ever win over Brazil.
Things seemed to be going well for Brazil when Paulo Henrique and Gabriel Martinelli scored goals in the first half.
But the visitors collapsed after the break. Takumi Minamino reduced the gap in the 52nd minute, then Keito Nakamura equalized 11 minutes later.
Brazil was brilliant and with enthusiastic crowd pressure, the hosts scored the winning goal in the 71st minute with a header from Ayase Ueda.
Ueda rejects the opportunity to hurt Brazil
The early stages were a tactical battle with both teams struggling to find any fluency – perhaps unsurprising in Brazil’s case given the number of changes to the starting line-up.
Vinicius Junior was playing as a dummy striker and struggled to make an impression with Brazil lacking any attacking threat.
In fact, Japan should have been ahead after 20 minutes. Great play from Ritsu Doan created the opportunity, Minamino passed it for Ueda but he shot wide.
It was a costly miss as Brazil scored from the ensuing opener.
Henrique started the attack with a pass to Bruno Guimaraes, who passed the ball back to the Fluminense striker, after completing an exchange with Martinelli.
It was 2-0 shortly afterwards, as Lucas Paqueta lifted the ball over the Japan defense and Martinelli slotted it past goalkeeper Zion Suzuki with his left foot.
Duan had Japan’s first shot on target near the end of the first half, but it did not bother Brazil goalkeeper Hugo Sousa.
Minamino Stars are back
Brazil was forced to stabilize matters at the beginning of the second half and keep the hosts in trouble until the fans’ lives were exhausted.
But they couldn’t do it.
It was Brazil who were the architects of their downfall, as just two minutes after Minamino went close, some poor defending allowed Japan their way back into the contest.
After playing the ball around the back, it was passed to Fabricio Bruno who took a hard touch, then slid, allowing former Liverpool player Minamino to take control and slot the ball past Sousa.
Ancelotti brought on Joelinton, Matthews Cunha and Rodrigo, while Guimaraes, Martinelli and Vinicius Junior came out, but that did not do much to stop the flow towards Brazil’s goal.
Bruno is wrong again
The hosts equalized with some questionable play from Bruno.
The ball was passed into the penalty area, Nakamura shot it towards goal and Bruno made a powerful shot to turn it into the net.
Casemiro survived a penalty kick for handball while Luiz Henrique had a goal ruled out for offside before Joelinton deflected wide after being passed by Rodrigo.
Ueda was wasting no time shortly afterwards, sending Junya Eto’o’s corner kick past Sousa, whose reactions should have been sharper.
Brazil came close to equalizing in stoppage time, as substitute Richarlison failed to keep his header low when he was in a good position.
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