ODDS and EVENS | U23 Asian Cup Showcased Japan's Talent and Determination

Japan's domination of China in the Asian Football Confederation U23 Asian Cup final was a dynamic display of the team's talent and collective determination.

In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, manager Go Oiwa's squad trounced China 4-0 on Saturday, January 24 to claim back-to-back U23 (aka Under-23) Asian Cup titles.

It's been articulated for centuries that the youth are our future, and tournaments like this one underscore that point.

Oiwa highlighted the positive impact of his players' performance in the tournament, which bodes well for the future of the senior national team, too.

"Winning the championship allowed us to see the players' growth," Oiwa said in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, on Monday, January 26, The Sankei Shimbun reported.

Oiwa, who has managed the Japan U23 squad since 2021, added, "In the end, it was a match that showcased the resilience of our young players."

With Oiwa at the helm, Japan also triumphed at the 2024 U23 Asian Cup, beating Uzbekistan 1-0 in the championship match in Qatar.

Up-and-coming standouts bolstered their reputations with strong performances in the continental showcase. And players who are lesser-known athletes provided glimpses of, or repeated examples of, their best qualities as soccer players.

Exhibit A: Ryunosuke Sato, MVP of the U23 Asian Cup.

Sato, an FC Tokyo midfielder, sparked Japan in the six tournament matches, finishing with four goals and two assists.

In the title match against China, the 19-year-old put his team, sometimes dubbed the Young Samurai Blue, ahead 3-0 in the 59th minute, scoring on a penalty kick.

Midfielder Yuto Ozeki (Kawasaki Frontale) gave Japan a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute. Kosei Ogura (Hosei University), another midfielder, tallied in the 20th and 76th minutes.

The Thrill of Victory

"Our goal in this tournament was to win the championship, so I'm very pleased that we were able to achieve that objective," Sato said, according to the Asian Football Confederation website.

"Winning the championship is a big achievement for me personally. As for scoring goals, I think I can focus on that in the next tournament. In the locker room, everyone was celebrating ― it was a truly happy moment."

Starting goalkeeper Rui Araki, who is 18, excelled throughout the tournament, allowing just one goal in his five appearances.

Araki was named the U23 Asian Cup Best Goalkeeper. His overall excellence in the tourney included a trio of shutouts.

"I'm extremely happy," Araki, an 18-year-old Gamba Osaka player, told reporters in Jeddah. "Conceding only one goal in this competition wasn't just down to me. I'm truly grateful to our defensive line and all my teammates. Every game was played under great pressure and that experience has helped me grow. I want to take what I've learned here back to my club and put it into practice."

After playing a pivotal role in Japan's third U23 Asian Cup title, Araki said becoming a better team is a priority.

"Winning the championship is the best possible result, but we still have areas to improve," Araki said. "We will keep working on those and aim to become a team capable of competing at a higher level."

The Road to the U23 Asian Cup Title

Japan routed Syria in the teams' U23 Asian Cup opener on January 7. Sato bagged a brace in the convincing win, scoring in the 66th and 75th minutes.

Oiwa's squad continued its unbeaten run with 3-0 and 2-0 decisions over the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, respectively.

In the quarterfinals, Japan and Jordan provided a stiff test for one another. The match, held on January 16, was tied 1-1 after extra time. Thus, penalty kicks were required to determine the winner.

Araki came up with two clutch saves in the penalty shootout, denying Mohammad Taha, who took the first penalty kick, and teammate Mohammad Al Shatti. On the latter save, Araki showcased his athleticism, making a diving stop.

Also in the shootout, Sato thrived under pressure, helping propel Japan to victory by putting the ball in the net on his spot kick.

Japan advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-2 win on penalties.

And then, in the semifinals, Sato, Araki and their teammates earned a 1-0 triumph over South Korea. Defender Kaito Koizumi lifted Japan past its Asian rival with a goal in the 36th minute.

"We won the semifinal and now we're ready to do it again in the final and lift the trophy," said Koizumi, a Meiji University student-athlete, after the match.

Success in Saudi Arabia

Confidence, talent and hard work formed the winning recipe for Japan at the U23 Asian Cup.

Satisfaction is a byproduct of that success.

"Our players have shown tremendous growth and I'm very happy that we were able to win the championship," Oiwa said after his team lifted the trophy in Jeddah.

"The level of competition has become very high," he added, "So we approach each tournament knowing it will be very challenging."

The first U23 Asian Cup was held in 2013. There have now been seven editions of the tournament. Japan's current squad became the first team to repeat as champion. It won the continental championship for the first time in 2016, setting a standard of excellence to pursue in future years.