Japan beat Brazil 3-2 in a friendly at the National Stadium in Singapore on Saturday. The match ended in chaos. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti and Raphinha were both sent off on the touchline after Tatsuhiro Sakamoto's stoppage-time winner, the Guardian and Capital FM reported.
Japan raced into a 2-0 lead inside the first 19 minutes, according to SuperSport. Takefusa Kubo struck on 15 minutes after a through ball from Ritsu Doan. Keito Nakamura added a second soon after, finishing a cross from Shuto Nakano. Vinicius Junior pulled one back in the 33rd minute with a shot into the top corner. He levelled in the 75th minute with a low effort that went in off the post.
Brazil pushed for a winner. Substitute Endrick hit the crossbar and Joao Gomes shot narrowly wide. Then Kodai Sano's effort deflected off a defender and fell to Sakamoto, who fired past goalkeeper Pedro Morisco. SuperSport said it was Sakamoto's first international goal, scored in front of 38,688 fans. Capital FM put the goal in the 91st minute.
Brazil appealed for a foul when Gomes lost the ball in the build-up, but VAR let the goal stand. Raphinha had already been replaced by Endrick in the 71st minute. He was shown a red card for his protests, SuperSport reported. After the final whistle, security staff had to separate several Brazil players from the officials, Capital FM said. Among the officials was Singaporean referee Jansen Foo. Raphinha and Ancelotti had also reacted angrily when a first-half penalty appeal was turned down.
According to Capital FM, it was Brazil's second 3-2 defeat by Japan in the past 18 months. The teams last met in the World Cup round of 32. Brazil won that game 2-1 before going out to Norway in the next round.
South America's other giant also stumbled. Argentina lost 2-1 at home to Uruguay in Buenos Aires on Friday, the Guardian reported. It was their first match since Lionel Messi's international retirement. Argentina face Costa Rica in Córdoba on Tuesday.