Action from Japan v DPR Korea (Group B first match) : AFC/STANLEY CHOU

KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champions Japan will be hoping for revenge when they face DPR Korea in the final of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship on Saturday at MPPJ Stadium.

Japanese coach Hiroshi Yoshida said his team have fulfilled one ambition by reaching the final, which enables them to qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.

He now wants them to show the world that their 1-0 loss to DPR Korea in the opening Group B match last week was merely a one-off occurrence.

“If you ask me which is more important, qualifying for the FIFA tournament or winning the title here, then that is a difficult question,” said Yoshida.

“Well, we have already completed one mission, and now we definitely want to win the title.”

Yoshida employed a 3-5-2 system against China in the semi-final and played their best game of the tournament in a 3-1 victory.

However, Yoshida is unsure whether the same system can be used against the Koreans.

“It will depend on the conditions,” he said. “When we lost to them, we couldn’t play 3-5-2. We want to play good football and also win, so we will decide the best system before the match.”

Yoshida’s girls have delighted the small band of Japanese fans with their skill and poise, which they can now take to the world stage for the New Zealand tournament.

“I’m happy that this group of players can continue to stay together for the FIFA event,” he said. “It would have been a shame if we failed to qualify and had to disband the team.”

DPR Korea, meanwhile, are physically superior to the Japanese, as was evident in their group game and their 7-1 victory over Thailand, whom Japan could only beat 2-1.

The Koreans also showed great fitness in beating Korea Republic 4-1 in the semi-finals. However, coach Ri Un-ham realizes that the final is a different proposition, especially against a Japanese team who are reaching peak form.

“It will be a different occasion and different match,” said Ri. “I didn’t see Japan play China in the semi-final but we know that they are a better team now than when we played them in the first round.

“We have come all this way by winning our matches and would like to continue. It will be a difficult match for us but we are confident.”