Khaberni - Japan's team shocked its Brazilian guest and achieved its first historic win against them 3-2 today, Tuesday, in a friendly match in Tokyo.
Brazil seemed on its way to an expected victory after finishing the first half ahead by two clean goals scored by Paulo Henrique (26) and Gabriel Martinelli (32).
But star Takumi Minamino led the comeback with a goal that reduced the gap (52), before Kito Nakamura equalized (62) and Hayase Ueda scored the winning goal (71).
This is Japan's first win over Brazil in 14 encounters between the two teams. It is also Brazil's second loss since Italian Ancelotti took over the helm in May, after their previous loss to Bolivia 0-1 in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Both the Brazilian and Japanese teams had previously secured qualification for the next World Cup finals to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Ancelotti made changes to his lineup that had thrashed South Korea 5-0 in a friendly, keeping the previous match's top scorers Estevao and Rodrigo on the bench alongside Matheus Cunha, and played Martinelli and Henrique alongside Real Madrid's Spanish star Vinicius Junior in the attack line.
Japan, on the other hand, was missing a number of its key players due to injuries, among them winger Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton English club and Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo.
Brazil opened the scoring after a sequence of passes reached Henrique who slid the ball into the net (26). Martinelli added the second taking advantage of a cross from Lucas Paqueta (32).
But Minamino narrowed the gap after a grave error from defender Fabricio Bruno (52) who deflected a strike from Kito Nakamura towards the goal (62).
At the 71st minute, Ueda scored the winning goal with a header following a corner kick executed by substitute Junya Ito (71).
