NEWS

Japan battled to a 1-1 draw with hosts Saudi Arabia to top their group on goal difference over the Saudis on Tuesday, setting up a meeting with Group B runners-up Korea Republic in the quarterfinals of the AFC Under-19 Championship.

A win against Korea on Saturday will earn Japan a place in next year’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Japan, who had already secured a place in the quarterfinals before Tuesday’s match, finished on top of Group A with seven points from a 2-1-0 win-draw-loss record. Iran came in third on three points after beating Yemen 2-0. Yemen had no points and finished last in the group.
Playing at Prince Mohammed Bin Fahad Stadium in Dammam, Japan let the two-time Asian champions go in front in the 57th minute through Mohammed Al Qarni.
But eight minutes later, Japan, who changed seven of their starting players from the previous match, leveled the scores when midfielder Kota Mizunuma stuck a Shinji Kagawa pass into the back of the net.
“I’m satisfied with the result,” Japan coach Tatsuya Makiuchi said.
“The Saudis were a powerful and tough side to play. I was hoping we would play more aggressively, but our players appeared a little defensive.”
“But we’ve got the result we were looking for. Now we’d like to go on to reach the final,” Makiuchi added.
“I’m glad we eventually won the group,” said Kagawa, who will return to his club Cerezo Osaka after the group stage. “I will cheer them on from Japan and would like them to reach the World Cup.”