*This content was translated by AI.
The Great Wall of China. Blanket bombing! U-23 Asian Cup Final 4-0 "Second consecutive championship grand feat"
Japan easily beat China to win the championship.
Japan's under-23 (U-23) national soccer team won the final match of the '2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup' against China at 0:00 p.m. on the 25th (Korea time).
Japan, which won the previous 2024 Qatar Games, won its second consecutive title for the first time in the tournament. Coach Owai Ko, who led Japan to the championship cup in the last tournament, proved his leadership by winning two consecutive championships. In addition, Japan achieved the most wins (3 times) in the tournament following 2016 and 2024.
Japan has set up a squad of players under the age of 21, not under 23, in preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Olympics. However, from the group stage to the final, he showed off his solid strength by overwhelming his opponent in every game. In particular, they also met South Korea, which is composed of two-year-old players, in the semifinals and won 1-0 with an advantage in performance.
China, which reached the final for the first time in its history, boasted a "salt water defense" that did not lose a single goal until the semifinals. However, it did not work for Japan, the strongest player in Asia. Realizing the overwhelming difference in skills, he was satisfied with the runner-up.
Japan, which pushed China from the beginning, scored the first goal in the 12th minute of the first half. Yuto Ozeki caught a ground ball cross from the right side and calmly shot it. The ball deflected off the Chinese defender and shook the net. China, which had not lost a single goal from the group stage to the semifinals, lost its first goal of the tournament.
Japan, which gained momentum, scored an additional goal eight minutes later. Kosei Ogura stole the Chinese player's ball and shot a mid-range shot near the arc circle to break the net. The first half ended 2-0 amid Japan's unilateral flow.
The situation remained unchanged in the second half. Japan continued to control the flow and lead the attack. Japan scored its third goal in the 15th minute of the second half. Ryunosuke Sato, who played kicker for a penalty kick obtained by a Chinese player's handling foul, neatly succeeded.
Jungwon resource Ogura's multi-goal was scored. In the 31st minute of the second half, Ogura hit a mid-range shot from behind the arc circle on a ball cleared by a Chinese defender in Japan's counterattack. Japan, which continued to lead the game for the rest of the time, finished the game 4-0, lifting the trophy.
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*This content was translated by AI.
