NEWS

Japan lost 3-0 to Korea Republic in the quarterfinals of the AFC Under-19 Championship on Saturday in Damman, Saudi Arabia, failing to qualify for next year’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

Japan, seeking their eighth straight berth in the FIFA Under-20 tournament, allowed the 11-time champions to take the lead in the 21st minute. Korea midfielder Yu Jino fired in the opener from a cross by Cho Young Cheol.
In an attempt to rally in the second half, Japan, playing without midfielder Shinji Kagawa following his return to his J. League club Cerezo Osaka, brought in forward Yoichiro Kakitani, who had missed the previous two matches after getting hurt in the first game.
But the Koreans kept control of the game.
Cho, who plays for J. League Division Two club Yokohama FC, got himself on the scoresheet in the 84th minute, helping the Koreans widen the lead to 2-0. Cho found the target again in stoppage time.
Japan Under-19 coach Tatsuya Makiuchi commented, “It is disappointing to have lost with a big margin like this, and it is a great shame that we couldn’t qualify for the World Cup.”
“We did not expect this outcome and the poor performance we put on today. Our players became erratic under pressure, and our defensive mistakes resulted in three goals,” Makiuchi noted.