Moriyasu Japan faces Brazil for the first time since the World Cup, Sakamoto scores the winning goal

On the 14th, the Japanese national soccer team (ranked 17th in the world) played against Brazil (ranked 6th) in an international friendly match held in Singapore and won 3-2.

This is Japan's second win over Brazil, and the first since an international friendly match last October.

Japan took the lead in the 15th minute with a goal from midfielder Takefusa Kubo (R. Sociedad). Immediately after, midfielder Keito Nakamura (Lyon) scored a goal.

After 30 minutes in the first half, Vinicius scored a goal in the second half and they were caught up, but substitute midfielder Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (Coventry), who came on as a substitute, pushed in a loose ball to take the lead.

They will face Brazil in the first round of the final tournament of this summer's World Cup in North and Central America. Japan suffered a come-from-behind loss 1-2.

Coach Hajime Moriyasu, who has coached the Japan national team since 2018, will retire after the match against Paraguay (33rd place) on the 17th.

Japan's starting lineup is as follows.

GK Ayane Suzuki (Aston Villa)

DF Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Hiroki Machida (Hoffenheim), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre), Shuto Nakano (Hiroshima)

MF Daichi Kamata (Crystal Palace), Ao Tanaka (Leeds), Takefusa Kubo (R Sociedad), Keito Nakamura (Lyon), Ritsu Doan (E Frankfurt)

FW Daizen Maeda (Ipswich)