Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Youchiro Kakitani scored two goals with one being the stoppage time winner as Japan edged host Korea Republic 2-1 in the last match of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) Cup to lift the title.
In the match played at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium on Sunday, both the sides were in search of win as a handsome margin win for the hosts could have given them the title in the round-robin format competition.
However, it was the Japanese who emerged winner after registering two wins and a draw in the competition which put them two points clear of second-placed China who earlier defeated Australia 4-3.
Kakitani took a Yuzo Kurihara’s pass into his stride and put the ball at the back of the Korean net in the 24th minute to give the reigning Asian champions lead.
Nine minutes later, the Koreans equalized through a powerful Yun Il-lok right-footer from the penalty area. And as it looked like the match would end in stalemate, Kakitani scored a stunning winner one minutes into the stoppage time. His second of the day helped Japan top the table and claim the title.
Both the sides are through in the FIFA World Cup 2014 finals and both of them qualified automatically in the AFC Asian Cup 2015 as Japan won the competition in 2011 while Korea finished third.
Photo: AFP