3 weeks ago
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Japan completed a superb second-half turnaround to unafraid their first-ever triumph implicit Brazil successful an planetary affable successful Tokyo yesterday.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil took the pb connected 26 minutes erstwhile Paulo Henrique fired a almighty onslaught location aft being played done by Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimarães.
Arsenal guardant Gabriel Martinelli doubled their pb six minutes later, latching onto a walk from West Ham’s Lucas Paquetá earlier hitting a debased finish.
However, Japan staged a superb fightback aft the break.
They were level soon aft the hr people acknowledgment to goals from ex-Liverpool guardant Takumi Minamino and Keito Nakamura, earlier Ayase Ueda’s almighty header successful the 71st infinitesimal clinched triumph for the hosts.
Ancelotti became Brazil manager successful May, and 4 points from his archetypal 2 qualifiers saw them suffice for the 2026 World Cup successful Canada, Mexico and the United States.
They bushed South Korea 5-0 successful different affable connected Friday, but could not clasp onto their vantage against Japan.
“It was a blackout from everyone successful our broadside successful the 2nd half,” skipper Casemiro told Brazilian TV Globo aft the defeat.
“This is the highest level, and if you autumn dormant for an full half, it tin outgo you a World Cup, a Copa América, an Olympic medal.
“It’s conscionable unacceptable, and we indispensable larn from it due to the fact that the World Cup is conscionable a fewer months up of us. We person to instrumentality attraction of the details due to the fact that they tin outgo you everything.”
Casemiro is 1 among respective Premier League players successful Ancelotti’s side, with Guimarães, Martinelli and Paquetá besides starting the lucifer alongside the Manchester United midfielder.
Chelsea winger Estevao, Manchester United guardant Matheus Cunha, Newcastle midfielder Joelinton and Tottenham striker Richarlison were among the players to travel connected for Brazil successful the 2nd half.
“Brazil didn’t amusement the cognition successful the 2nd fractional to halt Japan’s reaction,” said Ancelotti.
“I americium precise wide astir what happened; the squad mentally collapsed aft the archetypal mistake. This was the team’s biggest mistake.”
Meanwhile, his Japanese counterpart Hajime Moriyasu wanted his players “to observe the result” but added, “strong teams volition wage america much attraction from present on.”
“Beating apical teams similar Brazil successful authoritative competitions requires advancement and caution, and I privation the players to physique connected the assurance they person gained from today’s result,” Moriyasu said.
Japan person besides already secured their spot successful the 2026 World Cup, and Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada started the match, with Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka coming connected arsenic a second-half substitute.
English (US) ·