Crazy finish in Singapore: Ancelotti and Raphinha sent off after Japan’s lucky punch

Japan had lost to Brazil in the World Cup round of 32 last summer. In the friendly in Singapore, the Samurai Blue have now taken their revenge – with a truly crazy finish.

Memories of the painful 1–2 defeat at the end of June in the World Cup round of 32 were still very fresh in the Japanese players’ minds. This made the Samurai Blue all the more eager to get their own back in their next clash with Brazil. Consequently, Japan went into the friendly in Singapore highly motivated.

Hajime Moriyasu, who was managing his penultimate match as national team coach, fielded, amongst others, Hoffenheim’s Machida, Bayern’s Ito and Frankfurt’s Doan (wearing the captain’s armband). It took just 15 minutes for Doan to set Kubo through; Kubo left his marker in the penalty area looking foolish and coolly slotted the ball into the near corner. Just four minutes later, the crowd was in raptures as Nakamura, following fine build-up play from Nakano, extended the lead to 2–0 (19’).

Brazil, who had recently beaten India 4–0, were now under pressure. However, it took a moment of individual brilliance to bring the record world champions back into the game: from a seemingly harmless situation, Vinicius Junior made the most of it with a thunderous long-range strike to pull one back and make it 1–2 (33′).

A spark for Vinicius Junior?

After the break, Brazil worked towards a comeback – and actually managed to equalise with a quarter of an hour to go: once again, Bruno Guimaraes set up Vinicius Junior, who, after a quick cut-back, superbly placed the ball from the left-hand corner of the penalty area onto the inside of the right-hand post (75′). Was this a kind of spark for the 26-year-old? He hadn’t scored for either Real Madrid or the national team since the end of September.

In the closing stages, the match opened up, with the Japanese also sensing their chance. And they were to capitalise on them in stoppage time: following an attack down the left flank, Brazil failed to clear the danger on several occasions before Sano’s deflected long-range shot landed at Sakamoto’s feet. The Premier League professional from Coventry City beat goalkeeper Pedro Morisco to make it 3–2 (90+1).

Immediately after this lucky punch, however, emotions ran high. Referee Jansen Foo Chuan Hui from Singapore was summoned to the touchline by the fourth official, where he first showed the red card to a bewildered Carlo Ancelotti and then to captain Raphinha, who had already been substituted. Subsequently, the Brazilians – and Ancelotti too – protested vehemently to the referee, who, of course, refused to be swayed from his decision.

In the end, it was the Brazilians’ first defeat since their World Cup exit. The Seleção will therefore certainly be looking to “make amends” as early as Tuesday (11.00), when they face Singapore. Japan face Paraguay around three hours later (14.10).