Japan will take on China in the final of the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia after overcoming their rivals in contrasting styles.
Goalkeeper Kosei Oshita starred as Japan edged defending champions Uzbekistan 3-2 on penalties in their semi-final. Meanwhile, China turned on the power in the second half to defeat Australia 2-0 in their semi-final at the King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium Legends.
Japan had scored in the final seconds to force a 1-1 draw, with Oshita saving the first two Uzbekistan spot-kicks only for the Central Asian side to draw level at 2-2.
With his side having missed their third and fourth attempts, captain Anthony Motosuna stepped up to convert the winner as Japan set up a final against China on Friday.
Uzbekistan made two changes to the line-up that defeated Korea 5-3 on penalties in the quarter-finals, while Japan opted for six from their 5-0 win over Tajikistan.
The Central Asian side came close to finding the opener as early as the second minute with Amirkhon Erkinov releasing Sukhrob Sadirdjanov on the left flank, but the midfielder could only find the side netting.
Sadirdjanov and Akhrorbek Ravshanbekov continued to torment the Japanese defence from the flanks with Abubakir Rakhimov forcing Japan custodian Kosei Oshita into a low save in the 21st minute.
Uzbekistan’s high press proved to be too much for Japan to contain five minutes later after Chimezie Kai Ezemuokwe felled Akhrorbek Ravshanbekov inside the area, with Aliev sending Oshita the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Oshita, however, denied Uzbekistan their second goal a minute from the half-time whistle when Ravshanbekov recycled a corner and found Asilbek Aliev, whose flick was parried away by the Japanese goalkeeper.
Japan started the second half on the front foot, pushing for the equaliser with Maki Kitahara seeing his effort from just above the area blocked, while Arata Okamoto struck his long-range strike over the bar.
With Japan committing numbers forward, Uzbekistan found gaps down the left channel with Ravshanov sending Sadirdjanov through, only for the Gazalkent midfielder to shoot straight at Oshita on the hour mark.
Japan continued to probe for openings with Kitahara picking out Rekuto Shiraogawa, whose effort was foiled by the Uzbekistan defence.
Their sustained pressure looked to have been rewarded in the 78th minute when Shiraogawa floated a cross for Motosuna whose powerful header, however, was eventually ruled out for offside.
Japan kept pushing and were finally rewarded in the final seconds of added time when Chimezie Kai Ezemuokwe headed in a weighted pass from Motosuna to force the tie to penalties.
In the shootout, Oshita denied Muhammad Hakimov and Mirjamol Anvarov, with Japan taking a 2-0 lead. Mashkhyrbek Abdusoliev sent his strike against the crossbar but subsequent misses from Takeshi Wada and Tafuku Satomi allowed Uzbekistan back into the game.
Motosuna, however, was ice cold as he stepped up, making no mistake as he sent Japan into the final.
China through to the final for the first time since 2004
China started brightly with Zhao Songyuan forcing Australia goalkeeper Charlie Wilson-Papps into deflecting his glancing header across the face of goal, leaving Besian Kutleshi to clear the danger in the opening minute.
The East Asian side continued to apply pressure with Kuang Zhaolei initiating another save from distance in the ninth minute, before Shuai Weihao headed over the bar following Wan Xiang’s cross in the 18th minute.
Shuai Weihao remained at the centre of the action, first firing over from outside the box before forcing Wilson-Papps into an acrobatic save from a tight angle on the left in the 23rd minute.
Australia had their first look at goal in the 37th minute when Oliver O’Carroll set up Georgio Hassarati, whose tame effort from distance was easily saved by China custodian Qin Ziniu.
With their fans cheering them on, China broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart when Zhou Yunuo dispossessed Oliver O’Carroll and threaded the ball to Shuai Weihao, who finished his bursting run down the middle with an easy finish.
Australia tried to respond with Miles Milliner threatening from an acute angle in the 53rd minute before Hassarati saw his effort from inside the area drift just wide of the left post.
Akeem Gerald saw another chance go to waste in the 74th minute when he rifled his shot from inside the box but Qin Ziniu did well to thwart the danger while at the other end, Shuai Weihao was denied his second five minutes later from close range.
Substitute Xie Jin, however, sent the China fans into raptures after scoring in the first minute of stoppage time when he pounced on a loose ball inside the box before slotting past Wilson-Papps to seal the well-deserved victory.
