The Hindu : Sport : Japan overcomes Korea Republic, enters final

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 10, 2006
ePaper

Sport

Sport

Japan overcomes Korea Republic, enters final

Principal Correspondent

TOUGH FIGHT: Japans's Uchida Atsulo (2) and Tsukasa Umesaki try to tackle Korea Republic's Young Sung Shim in the AFC Youth championship on Thursday. — Photo: SUSHANTA PATRONOBISH

KOLKATA: Japan overcame holder Korea Republic 5-4 (2-2) via the sudden death in the first semifinal of the AFC Youth championship here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Thursday.

Japan has reached the final on five occasions but has never won the title. It was Korea which upset it in the last two editions.

The Japanese goalkeeper, Akihiro Hayashi, was the hero of the evening as he staved off numerous attacks in the 120 minutes of regulation time as well as the extra time before making two crucial saves in the tie-breaker and sudden-death to ensure his team's surprise win.

Japan was down to 10 men in the 84th minute but still managed to hold on.

The first Korean attack following the kick-off turned out to be productive. Korean striker Yong Rok Shin essayed a measured cross from the left flank. The pass was intended for Kwang Hoon Shin who was positioned near the goalmouth. But Shin miscued it and the ball rolled further up the Japanese box. Young Sung Shim, showing good opportunism, slotted it past the Japanese custodian Akihiro Hayashi.

After the break, Japan's Morishima made amends for his errors in the first session, with a perfect left-footer in the 47th minute that beat the Korean custodian Jo all ends up.

Korea then went all out to get its lead back. Japan, however, suffered a big blow when Tomoaki received the marching orders in the 84th minute for bringing down Yong Rok Shin. But no further goals were scored in regulation time.

Japan struck in the first 15 minutes of extra-time when Kota Aoki, who replaced Kawahara in the 63rd minute, found the target after Yasuhito Morishima's shot was blocked by the Korean custodian.

The Koreans struck in the 111th minute when substitute Dong Suk Kim scored from a direct freekick.

The match then entered the tie-breaker phase. Tsukasa Umesaki put Japan ahead 1-0 while the next five shots remained off target. Japan went 2-0 up through Yasuhito Morishima but the Koreans came back into contention as Hyun Ben Park and Seung Jin Bae found the target. Su Huk Jo saved the last Japanese attempt by Masato Morishige. In the sudden-death Kota Aoki made it 3-2 for Japan.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport