GOLAZONEWSJapan Edges Brazil 3-2 in Singapore Friendly, Ancelotti and Raphinha Sent Off
- Brazil suffered a 3-2 defeat to Japan in an international friendly held in Singapore.
- Head coach Carlo Ancelotti and Barcelona's Raphinha both received red cards during the match.
- Vinicius Jr. scored two goals for Brazil, while Bruno Guimarães provided two assists.
Brazil was defeated 3-2 by Japan in an international friendly match played on Saturday at the National Stadium in Singapore. Japan established a 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes of the encounter, ultimately securing a 3-2 victory.
The match concluded with a contentious finish, seeing both Brazil's head coach Carlo Ancelotti and Barcelona player Raphinha sent off. Raphinha, who had been substituted after 71 minutes, received a red card from the touchline for protesting Japan's stoppage-time winning goal. Ancelotti was also dismissed during the closing moments of the game.
Despite the team's overall performance, Vinicius Jr. netted two goals for Brazil, and Bruno Guimarães contributed with two assists. Corinthians midfielder André made his debut for the national team as a starter, playing 59 minutes and nearly scoring in the first half. Following the match, Bruno Guimarães acknowledged that the Brazilian squad is still in a developmental phase, noting that Japan fielded 16 players who participated in the last World Cup, compared to just six for Brazil. Commentator Alexandre Lozetti also voiced criticism, describing Ancelotti's tenure with the national team as "bad."