Portugal lost by 1-2 against Japan, in a preparation game for the 2023 European Championship, played this Tuesday, November 22, in Portimão.
With four changes in the starting line-up compared to the game against the Czech Republic, last Friday, also in Portimão (Samuel Soares, Afonso Sousa, Fábio Silva and Tiago Gouveia), the selection soon suffered two setbacks.
Both Fábio Silva, in the 1st minute, and Tiago Gouveia, in the 15th minute, were injured and had to be substituted.
The first goal of the match was scored in the 21st minute. Yutaro Oda headed unopposed and beat Samuel Soares.
On Portugal's side, the best opportunities went to Francisco Conceição: at 33 and 45+1, but both shots by the young winger were stopped by Suzuki.
Portugal's equalizer came in the second half. Fujio, in the 78th minute, scored a penalty and Fábio Vieira restored equality.
When everything predicted that the match would end in a draw, the same Fujio decided the game, in a confusing move, inside the Portuguese area, at 90+2'.
The under-21 national team thus ended this internship in the Algarve with a defeat: the first since the final of the European Championship in June 2021.
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