Japan and South Korea qualify for Rio Olympics
Print Edition
Asian giants Japan and South Korea qualified for the Rio Olympics and progressed to the final of the U-23 AFC championships with semi-final victories in Doha on Tuesday.
Both needed late goals with Japan scoring with virtually the last kick of the game to beat Iraq 2-1 and South Korea scoring twice in the last five minutes to shatter host Qatar’s dream of appearing in the final and qualifying for the Olympics for the first time since 1992.
It is the 10th time Japan have qualified for the Olympics and the seventh for South Korea.
Japan scraped through in the first semifinal thanks to Riki Harakawa’s fine left-foot finish in the 93rd minute.
Yuya Kobo had given Japan the lead in the first half but that was wiped out at the end of 45 minutes by Iraq’s Saad Nitaq. There was more late drama in the second semifinal, when a dull game sparked to life after half-time.
South Korea took the lead early in the second-half thanks to an error from Qatar’s goalkeeper Muhammad Naim.
He rushed from his area to try to halt an attack but was left stranded some 30 yards from goal after being beaten to the ball by Ryo Seungwoo.
Qatar and Iraq will meet in the third place play-off on January 29.
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