Japan Regains Top Spot in U-23 Asian Cup After 8 Years
The Japan loses 1-0 against Uzbekistan after missing a penalty kick.
Japan, who saved a penalty kick following a ‘great goal’ in extra time in the second half, defeated ‘difficult enemy’ Uzbekistan and succeeded in reclaiming the top spot in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 (U-23) Asian Cup after eight years.
Japan won 1-0 in the final of the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup against Uzbekistan held at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on the 4th (Korean time) thanks to Fuki Yamada’s winning goal in extra time in the second half. 카지노
With this, Japan experienced the joy of becoming champion for the second time since the 2016 tournament.
On the other hand, Uzbekistan missed a penalty kick opportunity in extra time in the second half and pondered the disappointment of finishing second in two consecutive competitions (2022 and 2024).
Japan’s captain Joel Chima Fujita was selected as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), and Iraq’s Ali Jassim, who took third place, was the top scorer with four goals.
With the conclusion of this tournament, which also serves as the Asian qualifier for men’s soccer for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the formation of Olympic groups has also been completed.
Japan, the winner, will face Paraguay, Mali, and Israel in Group D, and runner-up Uzbekistan will face Spain, Egypt, and the Dominican Republic in Group C.
Iraq, which ranked third after defeating Indonesia led by coach Shin Tae-yong in the third-place match, competes in Group C with Argentina, Morocco, and Ukraine.
However, Indonesia, which ranked 4th, must win the intercontinental playoff against Guinea (Africa) scheduled for the 9th to win the ‘last ticket’ to the Paris Olympics and fight in Group A with France, the United States, and New Zealand.
The outcome of this day’s final was decided in extra time in the second half.
Japan, who had failed to score in the 45th minute of the second half in a losing effort, scored the valuable winning goal in one minute of added time in the second half, which lasted 11 minutes.
The main character was midfielder Yamada, who came on in the 26th minute of the second half.
Japan launched a counterattack by blocking Uzbekistan’s pass near the center line, and after continuing a concise pass, Fuki Yamada, who took over the ball near the right side of the penalty arc, struck the goal with a left-footed shot to split the game.
