TOYOTA, Japan - Japan were beaten 1-0 by South Korea in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games men's football final on Saturday, finishing second behind the same opponents for the third straight games.
Japan, represented by their under-21 players, put in a strong performance at Toyota Stadium but fell to South Korea's U-23s, who had three overage players in their squad.
"We lost in the end and it's extremely frustrating," said manager Go Oiwa, set to take over as the senior Japan team manager from Hajime Moriyasu after the Asian Cup early next year. "We displayed our playing style well...Our young players developed each game."
Eom Ji Sung picked up Japan's loose ball and went close, while Japan captain and defender Rion Ichihara sent a header over from a corner in a busy start.
Japan began to dominate midway through the first half and early substitute Yuya Fukunaga had a deflected shot from the right roll just past the far post in the 37th minute before sending a volley wide as Japan finished the half with more promise.
The attacker was the first to threaten in the second half as he dragged his shot away, while a lively Yumeki Yokoyama also shot off target down the other flank and Ichihara steered another header wide before South Korea led against the run of play in the 61st minute.
Japan full-back Mihiro Sato lost the ball on the left and while keeper Rui Araki got a touch off a cross, Eom picked the ball up and got away from his marker before firing high into the net.
Hisatsugu Ishii came within inches of an equalizer but his curling effort from the edge of the box came off the right-hand post in the 79th minute and the hosts could not find a breakthrough.
"We had our chances," Ichihara said. "I'm relieved that this was only in the preparation period for the (2028 Los Angeles) Olympics."
South Korea won the title for the fourth straight time, while China won bronze after beating Uzbekistan 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
