Japan v Brazil Live Commentary & Result, 06/06/2022, Friendlies

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That loss brings Japan's eight-match unbeaten run to an end, but with both Germany and Spain in their World Cup group, the Samurai Blues have shown just how well they can do against top-tier opposition. Brazil record their fifth successive win, and, sitting at the top of the FIFA World Rankings, showed just how hard they'll be to beat in Qatar later this year.

Whilst Brazil's attacking exploits deservedly warranted a goal, their defenders were also kept busy. Fred alone made five tackles, two interceptions and a block, whilst Militao and Casemiro both won the ball eight times, coming via three clearances and two interceptions respectively.

The match ends, with that late Neymar penalty proving to be the decisive goal! Japan put in a spirited performance, and had chances to score themselves, but the dominance of Brazil at times suggested that a goal was all but certain, and Neymar stepped up to bury the winner from 12 yards and secure victory for the Selecao!

90' + 3' FULL-TIME: JAPAN 0-1 BRAZIL.

90' + 1' Despite conceding that crucial penalty, Endo has been everywhere for Japan. He's had two shots in the box and nine final third entries, as well as completing more touches, passes and duels than any other Japanese player. Defensively, he's made three tackles, whilst also winning three free-kicks himself. Dynamo.

90' We're into three minutes of added time to close out this hotly-contested game.

89' Alisson takes an age to clear his lines, and is almost dispossessed by Maeda as the Japan substitute races in front of him to deflect his pass wide!

88' Mitoma picks up the ball in space and drives into the box, but is ushered out of play by Militao and can't force a corner.

86' Endo is clipped late by Fabinho as he races towards the box, and Japan have a late chance of an equaliser from this free-kick.

Fabinho

Casemiro

85' Casemiro also comes off for the Selecao, and is replaced at the base of midfield by Fabinho.

Bruno Guimarães

Lucas Paquetá

85' Brazil make further midfield alterations, with Paqueta coming off for Bruno Guimaraes.

83' Mitoma looks to find Kamada with a cross into the box, but the ball strikes the abdomen of Militao and goes behind for a corner.

G. Shibasaki

A. Tanaka

81' Tanaka is the next Japan player to come off, as Gaku Shibasaki replaces him out wide.

M. Yamane

Y. Nagatomo

81' Nagatomo's 135th Japan cap comes to an end, as he's replaced by Miki Yamane.

Neymar

Yellow Card

80' Neymar and Nakayama have a coming together on the near touchline, and as the initial perpetrator, the Brazil goalscorer is booked.

79' Neymar swings a Brazil corner into the box, but Militao can't get a good head to the ball and Nagatomo deals with the danger.

Neymar

Penalty Goal

77' GOOOAAALLL!!! Brazil hit the front!!! Neymar's run-up is long and stuttering, but he finally reaches the ball and slots it into the back of the net, sending Gonda the wrong way and the Selecao lead 1-0!!

76' PENALTY!!! The referee points to the spot after Endo brought down Richarlison during that electric passage of play, and Brazil have a golden chance to break the deadlock from 12 yards!

75' WHAT A CHANCE!! Neymar latches onto Richarlison's flick and smashes a shot that Gonda parries. Richarlison follows in, but his volley hits the crossbar and bounces back into the danger area before the referee stops play!

K. Mitoma

J. Ito

73' Ito also comes off for the hosts, and is replaced on the wing by Kaoru Mitoma.

R. Dōan

T. Minamino

73' Minamino's run the show for Japan so far, but comes off now for Ritsu Doan.

72' Minamino latches onto a loose pass from Silva and races forward. Support arrives, and Nakayama crosses over the top to Ito, but his wild volley flies over the bar and behind.

Richarlison

Fred

71' Fred is also withdrawn by Tite, who brings on further attacking reinforcements in Richarlison.

Thiago Silva

Dani Alves

70' Brazil captain Alves comes off in the Canarinho's next change, and a fellow experienced old head comes on for him in the shape of Thiago Silva.

70' Jesus cuts inside and races into the box, but goes down under pressure from Yoshida to no avail!

68' Casemiro picks out Neymar with a beauty of a volleyed pass, but the forward slips trying to keep the ball in play and Nagatomo comes away with it.

D. Maeda

K. Furuhashi

67' Furuhashi is the next Japan player to come off, and he's replaced by his Celtic team-mate Daizen Maeda.

65' WIDE!!! Militao heads a cross back for Martinelli, but he mis-hits his volley and it rolls wide of the post!

64' BLOCKED!! The Alisson pass is brought down superbly by Neymar's chest, and he smashes a volley which is blocked by Itakura!

64' Minamino attempts to find Furuhashi on the run with a long ball, but Alisson races out of goal and skilfully keeps possession before passing long to Neymar.

Gabriel Jesus

Raphinha

63' Raphinha also comes off after going close on several occasions, and Gabriel Jesus will replace him down the right.

Gabriel Martinelli

Vinícius Júnior

63' Vinicius comes off in Brazil's first change, and is replaced by Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli.

62' Ito looks to find Minamino in the box, but his near-post cross is easily collected by Alisson.

60' Fred wins the ball from Kamada in midfield and finds Neymar on the run with a peach of a throughball. Neymar races into the box and looks to shoot, but his eventual pass to Paqueta is a poor one and the hosts recover possession.

58' CHANCE!!! Nagatomo flashes a cross into the area, where Militao half-clears to Kamada. His first-time effort bounces off Fred, and goes behind for a Japan corner!

57' WIDE!!! Neymar's diagonal ball into the box is headed down by Alves at the back post, but Raphinha can't find the target with his right-footed effort!

56' CHANCE!!! Raphinha glides through challenge after challenge before squaring for Neymar, but he can't connect properly as he slides in and the ball goes behind for a goal kick!

D. Kamada

Yellow Card

54' Neymar is caught very late by Kamada, who is rightfully booked for that unnecessary challenge.

53' BLOCKED!!! Brazil surge forward with a massive overlap on Japan's defence, and Paqueta's cross finds Fred in the box. He tees up Neymar, but his left-footed effort is blocked wide by Endo!

51' Alves' defensive header from a long ball lands at the feet of Furuhashi, who smashes a half-volley from 25 yards that is sent wide by a Marquinhos block!

49' Good play from Brazil as Neymar finds Fred in space in the box. He looks to pick out Paqueta, but passes behind his team-mate and Japan recover possession.

47' Nakayama stretches to keep the ball in play, but Raphinha picks it up and races towards the box. Kamada comes back on defence and bundles over the Brazil winger, and the Selecao have an early free-kick.

46' Brazil kick off, and we're up and running in the second half!

D. Kamada

G. Haraguchi

46' Japan make a half-time change, bringing off Haraguchi for Frankfurt forward Daichi Kamada.

The teams are back out for the second half, and can Brazil capitalise on their chances in the next 45 minutes?

Neymar has been kept at bay so far in this game, having two of his four shots blocked, and the other two saved by Gonda in the Japan goal. He's also completed a key pass, contested 15 duels, and been fouled six times already.

The first-half ends with Japan rather lucky to still have a clean sheet intact. The hosts have troubled Brazil at times during the half, but the Selecao have gone close on a number of occasions, with Paqueta hitting the post and Neymar and Raphinha both having shots saved. Japan's defenders are still hanging on, but could well but in for a busy second half.

45' + 1' HALF-TIME: JAPAN 0-0 BRAZIL.

45' We're into a minute of added time at the end of this first half.

44' BLOCKED!!! Brazil surge forward in numbers as Alves finds Vinicius. He tees up Neymar to shoot, but his first-time shot is blocked by Endo!

42' SAVED!!! Brazil flood forward through Raphinha but he is brought down. Paqueta picks up the pieces to play in Neymar, and his low shot at the near post is tipped wide by Gonda!

41' Casemiro takes a run-up to a free-kick reminiscent of Roberto Carlos, but can only drag his low drive wide of the post from 40 yards.

W. Endo

Yellow Card

40' Endo is caught in possession and Brazil race forward. Vinicius dribbles towards the box, but is cut down from behind by Endo, and the Japan midfielder is booked.

39' WIDE!!! Raphinha steps up to hit a deep free-kick, and curls his shot around the wall from 25 yards, just creeping around the outside of the post!

38' Arana takes on Nagatomo down the left and beats him. He crosses for Raphinha at the far post, but he can't connect properly with his header and the chance goes begging!

36' WIDE! Ito takes on Arana before finding Nagatomo on an under-lapping run, and the Japan right-back looks to beat Alisson at his near post, smashing a shot from the tightest of angles into the side netting!

Raphinha

Yellow Card

35' Raphinha is shown a yellow card by the referee, likely for dissent following a handball decision not going Brazil's way.

34' Neymar and Raphinha stand over the free-kick, with the former stepping up and striking the wall with his curling effort!

33' Neymar drives at the Japan defence and is caught late by a sliding Itakura right on the edge of the box, giving Brazil a glorious chance from this free-kick.

32' OVER!!! Ito's cross from the right lands on the head of Furuhashi, whose header is a good one, beats Alisson, but also beats the crossbar!

31' Vinicius' scooped pass to Paqueta is headed back across goal to Raphinha, but Japan crowd the Brazil winger out and clear the danger!

29' BLOCKED!!! Raphinha's cross-field ball to Vinicius is laid off to Casemiro, who hits a first-time shot that is blocked away by Itakura!

27' SAVED!!! Brazil attack in numbers as Paqueta's throughball is blocked. It bobbles out to Neymar, who smashes a low shot from the edge of the box, that Gonda does well to parry away!

26' OVER!!! Raphinha's well-struck free-kick swerves into the box, where Casemiro is rising at the back post. He gets his head to it, but can't keep the effort on target as it flies behind!

25' Fred dispossesses Minamino and spreads the ball wide to Neymar on the counter, but he's felled by Itakura as he cuts inside looking for options.

24' Vinicius skilfully beats Tanaka and looks to play in Neymar, but his pass is overhit and Gonda collects the ball.

23' CHANCE!!! Ito's corner is swung in and is met by the head of Endo. It takes a nick off Militao, but Furuhashi can't latch onto the ball at the back post and it goes behind!

21' Haraguchi's cross floats all the way over to Tanaka, whose dribble gets a touch off Alves for a Japanese corner.

19' SAVED!!! Alves drives through midfield before teeing up Raphinha down the right. He races towards goal, but slips as he shoots, with his low effort still drawing a save from the legs of Gonda!

17' Raphinha plays a good ball through to Neymar, who has a sight of goal but is crowded out and dispossessed by Itakura.

15' Raphinha looks to play in Vinicius, but it's an overhit pass that Gonda can easily collect.

13' Ito takes on Arana down the right, but having won a corner with his last attempted cross, can only find Marquinhos on his second attempt.

11' OVER!!! Good play from Raphinha and Paqueta almost frees up shooting space for Neymar, but it's cleared by Japan. Only as far as Fred though, who fires a shot from 20 yards that just clears the crossbar!

9' Itakura rises high at the back post and looks to glance a header into the far corner, but can't direct his effort on target and the ball goes behind.

9' Minamino cuts inside and glides past Fred's challenge, before being brought down by Alves for a free-kick.

8' Militao looks to find his Real Madrid team-mate Vinicius with a long ball forward, but it's too close to Gonda, who gathers.

6' Alves races out of defence and Brazil have a chance to counter, but Paqueta's wide ball to Raphinha is poorly timed and goes out for a throw.

4' Neymar looks to turn away from Itakura on halfway, but is dragged down by the Japan right-back, who is penalised.

2' OFF THE POST!!! An early opening for Brazil as Vinicius plays in Neymar. His clever back-heel finds Paqueta through on goal, and his low strike hits the base of the post and bounces away!

1' Japan kick off, and we're underway in Tokyo!

After an extraordinary lights show in the lead-up to kick-off, the teams head out onto the pitch, ready and raring to go!

Having scored twice from the spot against South Korea, Brazil forward Neymar starts up front again for the Selecao, flanked by Raphinha and Champions League winner Vinicius Junior.

Ao Tanaka scored Japan’s fourth goal against Paraguay, and with the Samurai Blues’ other three scorers on the bench, the Fortuna Dusseldorf winger keeps his place, starting on the right wing.

BRAZIL SUBS: Weverton, Danilo, Thiago Silva, Richarlison, Philippe Coutinho, Fabinho, Bruno Guimaraes, Gabriel Jesus, Alex Telles, Matheus Cunha, Gabriel Martinelli.

BRAZIL (4-3-3): Alisson; Dani Alves, Eder Militao, Marquinhos, Guilherme Arana; Fred, Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta; Raphinha, Neymar, Vinicius Junior.

JAPAN SUBS: Eiji Kawashima, Daniel Schmidt, Miki Yamane, Shogo Taniguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Daichi Kamada, Takefusa Kubo, Kaoru Mitoma, Ritsu Doan, Daizen Maeda, Ayase Ueda, Kiroki Ito.

JAPAN (4-3-3): Shuichi Gonda; Ko Itakura, Yuta Nakayama, Maya Yoshida, Yuto Nagatomo; Takumi Minamino, Wataru Endo, Genki Haraguchi; Junya Ito, Kyogo Furuhashi, Ao Tanaka.

Brazil haven’t lost a game since the 2021 Copa America final, and are currently on a five-game winning streak, the most recent of which was a 5-1 thrashing of Japan’s close neighbours, South Korea.

Having beaten Paraguay 4-1 in their first match of this friendly tournament, Japan will be hoping to pull off another South American scalp against the Selecao.

Hello, and welcome to live coverage of this international fixture, as Japan host Brazil in the 2022 Kirin Cup.

Japan v Brazil Live Commentary, 06/06/2022

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