Hosts off to a flyer

Abdelkarim Hassan’s rocket from distance helped Qatar come from a goal down to defeat China PR on the opening day as the 2018 AFC Player of the Year bagged a brace in a 3-1 victory, while the Islamic Republic of Iran ran out 2-0 winners over Syria in the other Group A game.

Japan edged East Asian rivals DPR Korea in Group B thanks to an early Naomichi Ueda goal, but the 2014 runners-up Saudi Arabia found the going tough against debutants Thailand as the sides played out a 1-1 draw.

There were no such problems for the defending champions Iraq, meanwhile, as two first-half goals secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Yemen in Group C, with Korea Republic also overcoming Uzbekistan 2-1.

In Group D, Baha’ Faisal was twice on the scoresheet as Jordan claimed an impressive 3-1 win against Vietnam and a late own goal from Australia’s Giancarlo Gallifuoco ensured the United Arab Emirates also enjoyed a winning start.

Last eight confirmed

Hassan went on to register goals in victories over Iran and Syria as Qatar stormed into the quarter-finals, where they were joined by the Iranians after Mahdi Torabi scored the decisive goal in a 3-2 win against China in their final group game.

While Japan recorded three wins from three following wins over Thailand and Saudi Arabia, there was a shock in Group B as the Saudis fell after picking up just two points. DPR Korea edged into the runners-up place on goals scored ahead of both the Thais and the Green Falcons.

Iraq and Korea Republic had already secured their places in the last eight following wins over Uzbekistan and Yemen respectively by the time they met in their final Group C match and it was the Taeguk Warriors who finished top following a 1-1 draw.

Finally, the UAE and Jordan emerged from Group D despite Australia picking up four points from their final two games, with the Emiratis’ come-from-behind 3-2 win against Vietnam seeing them claim top spot and the Jordanians going through in second on five points.

The drama begins

With the stakes raised and Olympic qualification nearing, three of the four quarter-finals went to extra-time as the first round of knockout matches threw up some incredible drama.

Japan and Iran were goalless after 90 minutes before the Samurai Blue took control in the additional 30 as Shoya Nakajima curled in a stunner – one of two goals – in a 3-0 victory.

The holders also needed extra-time against the UAE after the sides ended 1-1 in normal time, but the hero of the 2014 edition – Mohanad Abdulraheem – was on the scoresheet as Iraq ultimately ran out 3-1 winners.

Korea Republic were the only side that got the job done in 90 minutes but, nevertheless, the East Asians were made to work hard by Jordan, with Moon Chang-jin’s solitary first-half goal ultimately proving decisive.

Qatar thought they were into the semis only for DPR Korea’s So Kyong-jin to net seconds before the final whistle, but Ali Asad ensured their run would continue after striking early in extra-time.

All to play for

Four teams remained with just three places at the Olympics up for grabs and, if anything, the drama intensified.

Japan and Iraq were tied at 1-1 as the clock ticked towards extra-time but Riki Harakawa rifled home a stunning 93rd-minute winner to seal a place in both the final and the Summer Games.

And a similar story played out in the second semi-final, with the hosts and Korea Republic also at a goal apiece in added time, when Kwon Chang-hoon and Moon scored to set up an East Asian finale.

That left Qatar and Iraq’s hopes of appearing in Brazil resting on the third place play-off and a tense affair, yet again, did not disappoint.

Ahmed Alaaeldin’s first-half goal had the Qataris dreaming but, as so often before, Abdulraheem came up trumps when it mattered, heading home the equaliser with five minutes to play.

Another header, this time from substitute Aymen Hussein, in the 109th minute would break the hearts of a nation as Iraq sealed a come-from-behind 2-1 win and with it a ticket to South America.

A fitting finale

It was fitting that a competition which had delivered on the highest scale offered up one last match to remember as the East Asian powerhouses squared off for the right to be crowned kings of the Continent.

A deflected goal from Kwon and a lovely second on the turn from Jin Sung-wook saw the Koreans two goals up inside 50 minutes and seemingly on their way towards lifting the trophy.

But Takuma Asano’s neat finish midway through the half gave the Japanese hope before a bullet header from Shinya Yajima just two minutes later restored parity and set up a thrilling climax.

Japan had the momentum as the Taeguk Warriors crumbled. Asano rolled his defender with nine minutes remaining and tucked into the bottom left corner for the winner to complete a stunning comeback.

Wataru Endo lifted the trophy into the Doha sky to cap three weeks that had surpassed expectation and set the benchmark for the AFC U23 Championships to come.

Japan went on to fall at the first hurdle in Rio despite picking up four points, while Iraq remained unbeaten – including picking up a draw against hosts Brazil – but were also eliminated at the group stage.

Korea Republic topped a group that featured both Germany and Mexico, meanwhile, only to suffer a 1-0 defeat against Honduras in the quarter-finals.

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