AFC U23 Asian Cup: It was not our day, says Korea Republic’s Myung

A defeat on penalties to tournament debutants Indonesia following a 2-2 draw at the end of extra time meant that the 2020 champions fell short of reaching the last four for a fourth time in six editions, while it also saw them fail to qualify for a 10th straight Olympic Games.

Myung did give credit to his side for coming from behind twice in the tie at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium while finishing the game with 10 men after Lee Young-jun’s 70th-minute red card and refused to fault their efforts.

Hosoya slipped the ball under substitute goalkeeper Ali Korayem to break Qatar’s resistance 11 minutes into extra-time and Uchino added the fourth with seven minutes left as Go Oiwa’s side moved a step closer to claiming the title.

Fuki Yamada had given Japan a second minute lead before Ahmed Al Rawi levelled with a superb header 22 minutes later, the Qataris then shrugging off Yousef Abdullah’s 41st minute red card to go in front four minutes into the second half through Jassem Gaber.

But Seiji Kimura’s 67th minute header restored parity while Hosoya and Uchino struck late to take their nation into the last four as the Japanese seek to maintain their record of qualifying for every Olympic Games since 1996.