Asian champion? No way. Japan, it's crumbling02 defeat to Australia → failed to advance to the final
Feb 26, 2025
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Japan's U-20 soccer team, led by coach Yuzo Funakoshi, failed to advance to the final on the 26th (Korea time), losing 0-2 to Australia in the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup semifinal match at Baoan Stadium in Shenzhen, China.
Japan showed strong confidence even before the game. In an interview after reaching the semifinals, Yuzo said, "I'm happy and relieved to have made it to the World Cup. But I have a stronger desire to win than that." Rui Araki, the Japanese goalkeeper who led the team to the quarterfinals, also expressed confidence. Louis said "I didn't think I'd lose if I went in front of the goal"Our goal is to go to the World Cup as Asian champions. I want to win with our strengths" strongly expressed his will to win the championship.
However, Japan's performance in this tournament was not at an outstanding level suitable as a favorite. Unlike South Korea, which includes several players active in the K-League from the formation of the team, Japan included a large number of 17-year-old players, and was not overwhelmed in terms of performance, including a 2-2 draw against Syria in the group stage. It was the same in the quarterfinals. struggled with Iranian aggression. He lost a point five minutes into the first half and was shaken. Iran's left-footed shot by Reza Gandhipur shook the Japanese net to take the lead in the counterattack. Fortunately, Ogura Kosei's mid-range shot balanced in the 30th minute of the first half, but he failed to score an additional goal until overtime. After the penalty shootout, I managed to reach the semi-finals.
Japan, which advanced to the semifinals by beating Iran after a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals, formed a starting lineup that considered physical problems by changing eight of the quarterfinals' starting members except Ishii Hisatsugu, Inoue Aren, and Kita Kazunari.
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Australia took the lead after the start of the second half. In the fourth minute of the second half, Moussa Toure finished the cross from the right side with a neat shot in front of the gate to cut Japan's goal. Australia has widened the gap. In the 23rd minute of the second half, Jaylon Pearman, who received a pass from the left, attempted a powerful right-footed mid-range shot from the left side of the penalty box arc, and Goto Wataru reached out to block it, but the ball shook the Japanese net.
Japan missed a golden opportunity to chase. In the 32nd minute of the second half, Kanda Soma finished the cross in front of the gate with an accurate header, but it went straight to the goalkeeper. A minute later, Takaoka Lento touched the cross from the left with his leg once again, but it was not properly affected and was caught by the goalkeeper.
Japan pushed Australia to the end of the second half without letting up expectations, but failed to score. In the end, the match ended with Australia's 2-0 victory.
As Japan failed to advance to the final, the U-20 Asian Cup final at Baoan Stadium in Shenzhen, China, on March 1st, saw Australia and Saudi Arabia face off. In the previous match between South Korea and Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia beat South Korea 3-2 to reach the final after a close game.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
