The Japanese national team wins the AFC U-23 Cup title at the expense of Uzbekistan

Qatar – The Japanese national football team won the AFC U-23 Cup after defeating its Uzbekistan national team in the final with an unanswered goal on Friday at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in the Qatari capital, Doha.

The first half ended in a goalless draw, and in the second the Japanese team was active and had the most control over the ball, but it did not translate its control into goals.

When the match was drawing its last breath, the Japanese team intensified its pressure while the Uzbek team leaned entirely on defense, and in the first minute of stoppage time, the ball reached Fuki Yamada on the edge of the Uzbek penalty area, and he fired a direct shot into the net, announcing Japan’s first goal. .

The Uzbek national team did not lose hope, and in the sixth minute of stoppage time, the referee of the match awarded a penalty kick for Uzbekistan after returning to video technology.

Rakhman Aliyev took the penalty kick, but Japanese goalkeeper Leo Kokubo saved it brilliantly.

This is the second title for the Japanese team in the AFC U-23 Cup, after its first title, which it won in 2016, after defeating South Korea in the final match 3-2.

It is worth noting that the Iraqi national team won third place in the AFC U-23 Cup, after defeating Indonesia in the third and fourth place match with a score of 2-1, ensuring its advancement to the 2024 Olympics along with the national teams of Japan and Uzbekistan.

Source: RT + agencies