Japan will meet Uzbekistan in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 final after first half goals from Mao Hosoya and Ryotaro Araki earned Go Oiwa’s side a 2-0 win over Iraq at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium last night that also sealed the nation’s spot at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Hosoya put the 2016 champions in front in the 28th minute and Araki doubled the lead 14 minutes later during a commanding performance by Oiwa’s side, with captain Joel Fujita at the heart of a dominant display.
The Japanese will take on Timur Kapadze’s Uzbekistan on Friday to decide this year’s champions while Iraq will meet Indonesia 24 hours earlier to determine who will secure Asia’s third guaranteed berth at the Olympics.
Oiwa’s team put on their finest performance of the tournament to secure their nation’s second appearance in the AFC U23 Asian Cup final, with Fujita to the fore and the Iraqis unable to handle the quality of their opponents’ movement and passing.
Hosoya was denied as early as the 10th minute, Iraqi goalkeeper Hussein Hasan redirecting the Kashiwa Reysol striker’s goal-bound shot after he latched onto Araki’s well-weighted through ball.
That was to prove a sign of what lay ahead even if, moments later, Leo Kokubo was called into action, diving at full stretch to his right to collect Ali Jasim’s attempt to strike into the bottom corner.
Japan were steadily exerting control and, as the game approached the half hour mark, Oiwa’s outfit went ahead.
Fujita’s ball down the middle was exquisitely controlled by Hosoya with his first touch, the striker then turning, with Zaid Tahseen on his back, to show great balance and roll his right-foot shot into the corner beyond the diving Hasan.
The second came with three minutes remaining in the half, and it was Fujita who was again at the heart of the move. Ayumu Ohata used his body strength to spin past Ali Basim and cut inside to feed Fujita, whose first time through ball was stroked home by a gleeful Araki.
Jasim threatened in the seconds after the restart as Iraq sought a way back into the game, but before long the Japanese were pushing for their third.
Hasan kept out Matsuki’s effort from the edge of the area while Fuki Yamada’s close range flick was blocked by the keeper before Hosoya pulled his strike wide in a rapid sequence of near-misses for the enterprising Young Samurai Blue.
Hosoya rattled the woodwork with a header midway through the second half while Blnd Hassan’s shot thumped against the post in a rare sight of goal for the Iraqis, but Japan closed out the game in convincing style to seal their spot in the final and in Paris.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan advanced to their third AFC U23 Asian Cup final in four editions after defeating Indonesia 2-0 in their semi-final at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.
A bold Timur Kapadze made six replacements to the team that beat Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals, including matchwinner Khusain Norchaev, while Shin Tae-yong made three - with Ramadhan Sananta starting in place of the suspended Rafael Struick.
Uzbekistan, however, quickly got into their stride with Abbosbek Fayzullaev dictating play in the centre with his marker Ivar Jenner struggling to cope with the guile and movement of the CSKA Moscow midfielder.
Two early chances were created from the right with Alisher Odilov forcing a reflex save from Ernando Ari at his near post, which was followed by Ulugbek Khoshimov’s driving run that ended up with a dragged shot just wide of the post.
Indonesia’s goalmouth led a charmed life when midfielder Abdurauf Buriev struck a powerful shot from distance in the 30th minute which beat Ernando but not the crossbar but crucially for the Southeast Asians, Uzbekistan could not make their dominance count.
Kapadze sent on Jasurbek Jaloliddinov and Norchaev in the second half, with Uzbekistan continuing to rain shots at Indonesia’s goal with efforts from Zafarmurod Abdirakhmatov, Odilov and Jaloliddinov.
Against the run of play, Indonesia looked to have broken the deadlock in the 61st minute after Muhammad Ferrari jabbed the ball home following a melee, only for the goal to be ruled out as Ramadhan had been offside in the buildup.
Having survived the scare, Uzbekistan took the lead seven minutes later when Muhammadkodir Hamraliev produced an inch perfect cross from the right that was turned in by Norchaev.
Uzbekistan pushed hard for a second goal, striking the post through attempts by Fayzullaev and Norchaev before Umarali Rakhmonaliev put his shot well over after being put under pressure by Ferrarri.
Indonesia’s hopes of a comeback suffered a setback in the 84th minute after referee Shen Yinhao sent off Rizky Ridho for a high foot challenge on Jaloliddinov following a VAR review.
From the ensuing free-kick, Uzbekistan doubled their lead after Ernando could only parry Jaloliddinov’s powerfully struck effort, with Abdukhodir Khusanov’s header from the rebound hitting the post but in the scramble to clear the ball, Pratama Arhan and his keeper got in each other’s way as the Indonesian left-back sent the ball into the net.