Japan went down 2-1 against Brazil in A women’s football international friendly on Monday, ending their two-game series away to the South Americans with two defeats.
Nadeshiko Japan fell to a 3-1 loss on Friday for their first defeat under new Danish manager Nils Nielsen and the world’s fifth-ranked nation were beaten again by their eighth-ranked opponents at Cicero de Souza Marques Stadium in Sao Paulo.
Japan’s Rion Ishikawa (front R) and Brazil’s Dudinha battle for the ball during a women’s football international friendly in Sao Paulo on June 2, 2025. (AP/Kyodo)
Manaka Matsukubo, one of six changes for Japan’s starting XI, hit the post on a one-on-one with goalkeeper Lorena in the 28th minute before Kiko Seike, who scored a late consolation in their previous game, sent her shot wide after skipping past the keeper three minutes later.
Despite a hint of offside, Seike gave Japan the lead a minute into the second half as she side-footed home Aoba Fujino’s low cross delivered with the outside of her foot.
Defender Rion Ishikawa turned the ball into her own net in the 54th minute, however, allowing Brazil to draw level after keeper Ayaka Yamashita completely missed the ball from a corner.
Seike hit the post minutes later before Brazil hit Japan on a counter for the 79th-minute winner as substitute Jhonson dinked her shot past Yamashita.
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