Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jakarta: Shunki Higashi has labelled his opening goal against Indonesia the best of his budding career, after his stunning long-range strike helped Japan to a 2-0 AFC U-19 Championship quarter-final win over hosts Indonesia.
With the Indonesians defending in numbers, there seemed no clear path to goal for Japan in the opening 40 minutes of the match, but that all changed when Higashi sent a 35-yard rocket into the top right corner of Muhamad Riyandi's net.
The Sanfrecce Hiroshima youngster, 18, reflected on the memorable goal, declaring it the best of his career, for now.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jakarta: Japan's head coach Masanaga Kageyama revealed his satisfaction after watching his players defy 60,000 fans and a torrential downpour to defeat host nation Indonesia 2-0 in the AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Sunday.
Kageyama's young charges walked into a cauldron of Indonesian support but emerged victorious to seal a place in the AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018 semi-finals as well as the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.
Reflecting on their achievement after the match, Kageyama said there were a number of pleasing elements in Japan's win.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jakarta: Head coach Bruno Pinheiro has declared that Qatar’s next target is to reach the AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018 final after Sunday’s entertaining 7-3 extra-time win over Thailand saw them progress to the competition’s last four.
An incredible game saw the West Asians take a 2-0 lead, before being forced to rely on Ahmed Suhail’s 87th minute equaliser to take the game into extra-time. Four further goals in the additional half an hour subsequently saw the 2014 champions edge closer to a Continental title showdown and, in the process, seal a place at next year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Whilst delighted with Qatar’s World Cup spot at Poland in 2019, Pinheiro is already eyeing more success for his talented young charges – starting with the semi-final clash against either Korea Republic or Tajikistan.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jakarta: Defending champions Japan became the second team to earn a place in the AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018 semi-finals, and a ticket to the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, eliminating hosts Indonesia with a 2-0 win at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Sunday.
A sensational goal from Shunki Higashi just before half-time was followed by Taisei Miyashiro's 70th-minute sealer, as Masanaga Kageyama's side continued their perfect winning record in the competition.
They will now face either Saudi Arabia or Australia in the final four, while Indonesia's dream of appearing at a second ever global finals ends at the final hurdle.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jakarta: Qatar progressed to the semi-finals of the AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018 on Sunday thanks to a 7-3 extra-time win over Thailand that also saw them book a spot at next year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Head coach Bruno Pinheiro’s charges, AFC U-19 champions in 2014, were made to dig deep by their Southeast Asian opponents as a quartet of late goals saw them advance to the last four where they will meet the winners of Monday’s quarter-final tie between Korea Republic and Tajikistan.
The late drama rounded off a classic evening of football, one which had swung one way and then the other before Qatar struck to seal a sensational victory and leave Thailand to rue what could have been.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bekasi: Young Socceroos head coach Ante Milicic wants a new generation of Australians to enjoy the FIFA U-20 World Cup experience he did as a player, and has called on his team to seize their opportunity in Monday's AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018 quarter-final against Saudi Arabia.
The two sides stand 90 minutes away from securing a place at next year's global youth showpiece, with the winners of the match at Patriot Chandrabhaga Stadium to claim one of four tickets to Poland 2019.
It's 25 years since a then 18-year-old Milicic scored against Colombia, Russia and England as Australia reached the semi-finals of the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship on home soil, an achievement which followed on from another appearance in the final four in Portugal two years prior.
The early 90s was a proud era for Australian youth football, and one Milicic hopes can be recreated by the class of 2018.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bekasi: Korea Republic head coach Chung Jung-yong believes his side head into Monday’s AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018 quarter-final against Tajikistan in a buoyant mood after gathering potentially crucial momentum during a successful group stage campaign.
The Koreans drew their opening Group C match with Australia, before recording successive 3-1 victories against Jordan and Vietnam to claim pole position and book their place in the last eight.
With a ticket to next year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup also on offer to the winners of the game, Chung is adamant that the progression he has seen thus far will stand his young charges in good stead.