April 26 – Japan powered past Qatar in extra time of the U23 AFC Asian Cup, crushing the host’s senior and U23 Asian Cup double dream on home soil with a 4-2 win.
Japan opened the scoring early through midfielder Yamada as it took just two minutes for the quarter final to explode into action.
With both teams eager to attack, Qatar replied with two first-half goals from Ahmed Al Rawi and Jassem Gaber to give the hosts the advantage heading into the break.
Moments after gaining the lead, Qatar goalkeeper Abdullah saw red, dismissed after referee Hanna Hattab consulted the pitchside monitor following a clash with Hosoya, with the Qatari deemed guilty of lashing out at the Japan striker as he leapt to clear a high ball.
Down to ten men before the half, Qatar had it all to do in the second phase, but were unable to keep Japan defender Kimura from nodding home in the 67th minute after latching on to Yamamoto’s in-swinging corner from close range.
With the score two apiece at the end of normal time, Japan used their numerical advantage to full effect. They quickly piled on two goals in extra time, as Hosoya and Uchino combined to bury Qatar’s hopes of an Asian Cup double and act as a costly reminder to maintain discipline.
Indonesian run continues
Indonesia, the tournament’s debut team that have upset the form book, stunned South Korea to reach the semi finals after a marathon penalty shoot-out.
Pratama Arhan scored the decisive spot-kick in the 11-10 shootout win after extra time had ended 2-2. The shootout capped a hard-earned triumph for the Indonesian, who were twice in front in regulation time but couldn’t hold their lead despite playing with a one-man advantage from the 70th minute onwards.
Indonesia star Rafael Struick, who also featured for the senior team back in January, was the decisive player for the underdogs, scoring two crucial goals.
Korea deserve credit for wrestling back from each goal conceded, but faced a similar fate to Qatar due to ill discipline. Substitute Lee Young-Jun saw red in the 70th minute that made a comeback goal even more elusive.
The victory signifies a full-circle journey for Indonesia Shin Tae-Yong, who led the Korean team nine years ago, to a runner-up position in the 2016 edition.
If the 53-year-old coach can guide his current team past Uzbekistan or Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals he will crafted one of the tournament’s biggest ever underdog stories.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1732302204labto1732302204ofdlr1732302204owedi1732302204sni@g1732302204niwe.1732302204yrrah1732302204
