June 29 – Japan will attempt to win their fourth AFC U17 Asian Cup title on Sunday against Korea Republic at the at the Pathum Thani Stadium in Thailand.
The youth championship (formerly the AFC U16 Championship) has already qualified the four semi-finalists – Japan, Iran, Korea Republic and Uzbekistan – for the U17 World Cup to be played in Indonesia at the end of the year.
Japan have dominated the tournament to date and swept aside the Iranians 3-0 at the Thammasat Stadium to overcome a tough Iranian side.
Japan have now scored 19 goals in five matches. Against Iran, Ryunosuke Yada, scored Japan’s first with a left-footed first-time finish from 15 yards on 10 minutes.
Kohei Mochizuki scored Japan’s second and his fourth goal of the tournament on 25 minutes. In the 74th minute Ryunosuke Sato closed the game out with a low free-kick, which flew into the bottom left corner from 20 yards.
Korea Republic’s battle with Uzbekistan was much tighter with both sides having chances.
Back In-woo was Korea Republic’s hero. With the match on the half-hour mark, Korea won a free-kick just outside the penalty box. In-woo hit the ball deep into the bottom right corner to send Korea into the final.
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