Japan strengthened their bid for a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC U17 Asian Cup in Saudi last night as Maki Kitahara stepped off the bench to secure his side a 2-1 win over China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The win was Japan\u2019s second in a row in Group B with Anthony Motosuna giving them a 37th minute lead only for Zhao Songyuan to level the scores three minutes into the second half, but Kitahara struck on the hour mark to maintain his side\u2019s perfect start to the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wan Xiang saw a pair of efforts blocked by the Japanese defence in the opening 11 minutes while Takafuku Satomi\u2019s free kick was off target six minutes later as the teams sized one another up throughout the early exchanges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yoshiki Fujimoto went closest to putting Japan in front in the 32nd minute when he was released behind the Chinese defence by Koki Kurahashi\u2019s pass from deep but the shot flashed across the face of goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With eight minutes left in the half, Japan went ahead when Satomi\u2019s corner from the right dropped into the heart of the penalty area and Motosuna smashed his right foot shot into the roof of the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second half was only three minutes old when China pulled level. Zhao Songyuan was released by Wan Xiang and, after holding off Kaiji Chonan, the forward angled his shot past Kosei Oshita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kurahashi was denied in the 54th minute when he threatened to put the Japanese back in front but, by the hour mark, Ono\u2019s team had retaken the lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Satomi won the ball deep in Chinese territory before feeding Eito Takaki, who shuttled possession to Kitahara and he calmly slotted his shot past Qin Ziniu from 20 yards out to score his third goal of the tournament as Japan prevailed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qatar revived their quarter-final hopes after defeating Indonesia 2-0 in their Group B tie at the King Abdullah Sports City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The West Asian side, who lost to Japan in their opener, will meet China in their final match on Tuesday while Indonesia take on Japan on the same day – with all four sides still in the running for a place in the last eight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qatar started the livelier side but Indonesia soon found their rhythm, with Farrel Luckyta, Peres Tjoe and Putu Ekayana all seeing their attempts go off-target or ably handled by the Qatar backline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Southeast Asian side should have opened the scoring in the 16th minute following a handball by defender Taha Nassir, but Qatar keeper Bakri Mohamed judged correctly to punch out Mathew Baker\u2019s spot-kick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both sides continued to trade blows, with Jad Hadi Khalil ballooning the ball over in the 34th minute in Qatar\u2019s first attempt while Bakri made an easy save from Girly Andrade\u2019s half-volley from outside the area to close the first half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qatar finally struck first in the 57th minute when Ayokunle Tokode surged down the middle after a nice set-up by Khalil, evaded two defenders and coolly slotted the ball past a wrong-footed Mike Rajasa Hoppenbrouwers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They doubled their lead in the 66th minute when Dhiaeddine Larbi, again off a pass from Khalil, made an unchallenged run down the left and chipped past Hoppenbrouwers, his shot hitting the left post before finding the back of the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qatar\u2019s win was dampened when Amr Mohamed was sent off five minutes into stoppage time for violent conduct, with both sides going into their respective final matches with all to play for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saudi Arabia advanced to the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Thailand in their Group A fixture at the King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-time winners, who secured the victory thanks to an early goal from Marwan Al Yami and another in stoppage time by Hassan Al Okrush, also confirmed their ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 with the victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saudi Arabia found their opening goal as early as the fourth minute from a corner, Al Yami rising highest in a crowded goalmouth to power his header past out-of-position Thailand custodian Chaophraya Klamchom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thailand\u2019s attempts at drawing level saw Phanuwit Jeyakom forcing a save from custodian Abdullah Almas with a low drive in the ninth minute, Phonphithak Rungrueang unleashing a shot that whizzed past the left post in the 26th minute and an unmarked Panuwit again coming close moments later but sending his shot wide from the centre of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Almas pulled off a fine save from a shot from point-blank range by an unguarded Phonphithak Rungrueang in the 37th minute as the Southeast Asian side intensified their efforts, with the keeper forced into action again three minutes later to deny Poramet La-Ongdee\u2019s effort as Saudi Arabia defended their slender lead going into the break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thailand continued their offensive in the second half, with Pakorn Suttiprapa booting the ball over and Phanuphong Jeyakom\u2019s shot easily saved by Almas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chaophraya was called into action in the 69th minute when he easily collected a low drive from Faris Bu Shaqraa, who came close again a minute later when he headed over the bar from the centre of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Thailand keeper made saves from Ahmad Ishak\u2019s headed attempt in the 74th minute and a stinger from Ali Al Hizimi as the hosts threatened to double their advantage, but it was Thailand\u2019s Poramet who came closest to a goal when he sent his shot into the side netting in the 87th minute with only Almas in his way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saudi Arabia sealed the match two minutes into injury time when Al Okrush stuck out a foot to turn in Abdullah Al Batli\u2019s shot from outside the area to give the hosts the second win of their campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asadbek Makhtumov\u2019s solitary strike earned Tajikistan a 1-0 victory over Myanmar as the Central Asian nation picked up a second win in a row to advance to the quarter-finals and qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Makhtumov struck in the 28th minute to give Tajikistan back-to-back wins after their opening 2-0 victory over Thailand on Tuesday, with their six points enough to be sure of a top two finish in Group A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tajikistan\u2019s Muhammadjon Mirahmadov was well off target with his attempt from distance in the 24th minute but Makhtumov was much more clinical four minutes later as he gave his side the lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mustafo Hasanbekov\u2019s incisive ball from deep inside his own half found Makhtumov on the edge of the penalty area and, in one fluid movement the forward spun past the Myanmar defence to slip his shot into the bottom corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The goal injected increased urgency into the Myanmar attack and within two minutes the Southeast Asians had almost levelled, Nyi Nyi Thant thumping a dipping strike from outside the area just over the bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nyi Nyi Thant directed the ball into Abubakr Rahmonqulov\u2019s hands inside the six yard box moments later as Myanmar went closer to levelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Myanmar goalkeeper Htet Wai Yan was called into action two minutes after the interval to keep out Munavar Anvarzod\u2019s right-footed shot while Parviz Sanginov was denied 18 minutes later for Daler Kayosov\u2019s team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Makhtumov should have put the result beyond doubt with seven minutes remaining when he was played in on goal by Anvarzod but he directed his attempt high and wide of the target. Anvarzod then skied his shot on the run over the bar deep into stoppage time but it mattered little as Tajikistan closed out the win to advance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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