Pressure all on Japan & South Korea in semi-finals of AFC U-23 Championship

PFDC – DOHA, The East Asian giants Japan and South Korea were favored entering the semi-finals. Two tickets to Brazil were at stake today. Would the favorites win or would we see some upsets?

Semi-finals

Japan v Iraq – Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

The Blue Samurai may have been a little tired after their tough quarter-final win over Iran but this Japanese team has shown everyone that they have depth at every position.

Musashi Suzuki began a move at the center-line by putting the ball past Iraqi defender Saad Natiq and starting a run by barely keeping the ball in-bounds. Suzuki continued his run down the left, carried the ball into the penalty area, and centered the ball at the edge of the six-yard box where Yuya Kubo finished it perfectly to give Japan a 1-0 lead after 26 minutes.

Two minutes before the interval, a corner kick for Iraq taken by Amjad Waleed created trouble as the ball deflected off the cross bar. The rebound was headed by Iraqi defender Saad Natiq and batted out by keeper Masatoshi Kushibiki but the rebound went right back to the head of Natiq and this time Kushibiki could not make the save as the Iraqis equalized at the perfect time.

This was an entertaining match that looked destined for extra time but we all know that appearances can be deceiving.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Japanese forward Takumi Minamino received a pass in the Iraqi penalty area from second half substitute Takuma Asano. Minamino carried the ball to the right side of the penalty area and sent in a cross that was parried by Iraqi keeper Fahad Talib. The ball went right to an unmarked Riki Harakawa at the edge of the penalty area. Harakawa made no mistake as he fired a shot through traffic that Talib had no chance of stopping.

The Iraqis were crushed while Japan were ecstatic and relieved at the final whistle. Japan were in no mood to go to extra time again after defeating Iran 3-0 in extra time in the quarter-finals. The finish was perfect for Japan as they have booked a spot in the AFC U-23 Championship Final Match but they can now also make travel plans for the Summer Olympics in Brazil.

Qatar v South Korea – Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha

Nearly twelve thousand spectators were in attendance to see a semi-final match-up between hosts Qatar and favorites South Korea. Entering the semi-finals, the Qataris had a one hundred percent record and the South Koreans they had their work cut out for them.

After a scoreless first half, many were expecting the game to produce some goals in the second half.

South Korea took the lead in the 48th minute. From just inside his own half, Hwang Ki-wook sent a perfect ball into no-man’s land. Qatari keeper Muhannad Naim came far out of his penalty area to try and clear the ball to safety but it was the touch of Ryu Seung-woo that put South Korea in a 1-0 lead.

Thirty minutes later, it was the Qataris that equalized through Ahmed Alaa’s fifth goal of the tournament. Qatari defender Musaab Khidir sent in a cross from the right that was volleyed by Alaa. South Korean keeper Kim Dong-jun was clearly very upset with himself as he mishandled the shot.

The celebrations did not last very long for the Qatari supporters as Kwon Chang-hoon finished off a cross from Lee Seul-chan in the 89th minute to put South Korea back in the lead and bring his tournament goal tally to four.

Five minutes into stoppage time, the South Koreans added another goal. This time it was Moon Chang-jin who scored his fourth goal of the tournament to give South Korea a 3-1 victory and a ticket to Brazil for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

For the hosts Qatar, the loss hurt badly and they will play Iraq on Saturday in the 3rd place play-off at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. In most tournaments, the 3rd place play-off is usually considered as pointless but this time a ticket to the Summer Olympics in Brazil will be up for grabs.

On Sunday, fans definitely will not be disappointed in a match-up between East Asian giants South Korea and Japan at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium to decide the winner of the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship.

3rd Place Play-off

Qatar v Iraq – January 29

Final

South Korea v Japan – January 30

Image courtesy of the-afc.com