Agency :
Japan has emerged victorious in the U23 Asian Cup by defeating Uzbekistan 1-0, with goalkeeper Leo Kokubo playing a crucial role in securing the title for Go Oiwa’s team with a last-minute penalty save.
Substitute Fuki Yamada put Japan in the lead by slotting his shot into the bottom corner of the Uzbek goal in the 91st minute. However, a handball by Hiroki Sekine provided Uzbekistan with a chance to level the playing field and possibly force extra time.
But Kokubo came to the rescue as he dove to his right to deny Umarali Rakhmanaliev’s penalty kick, ultimately clinching Japan’s second U23 title since 2016.
The final match at Doha’s Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Friday featured a face-off between Japan and Uzbekistan, both of whom had already secured spots in the Olympics in Paris this summer. The tournament was a decisive qualifier for the Games in Asia.
In the third-place match held on Thursday, Iraq secured victory in extra time against Indonesia. Meanwhile, Indonesia will face Guinea on May 9 in a playoff for the final spot in the Olympics.
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