Korea lose to Japan 2-1
The Korean men's national football team players react after losing to Japan 2-1 in the East Asian Cup at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, Sunday. / Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
Yoichiro Kakitani’s goal in the dying seconds gave the Korean men’s national football team a 2-1 loss to Japan at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, Sunday.
After failing to score in the past two games against Australia and China in the East Asian Cup, midfielder Yun Il-lok finally found the net for new manager Hong Myung-bo, but failed to outperform the clever striker with finishing ability.
Korea wasted too many good chances, including 11 corner kicks, in front of the goalkeeper, while the Japanese offense barely had chances to reach Korea’s penalty box.
It was Kakitani’s ability to get a high-percentage shot that determined the winner.
Japan won the title with seven points, two ahead of China. In an earlier match against Australia, China won 4-3 to improve to five points.
Korea ended the tournament on third with one loss and two draws, while Australia finished with a draw and two losses.
“It is not a good feeling to lose to the rival,” Hong said. “Nonetheless, I think our players showed conviction and did well.”
“We will get prepared for the games to come since my analysis about players has been almost done.”
The two rivals showed aggression out of the gate to take control of the match, but the balance soon tipped as Koreans dominated the visitors in the midfield.
The hosts dictated the first half in pace, goal possession and stamina over Japan. What Korea lacked was the shooting ability.
Yun Il-lok showed the best performance at the front, providing some moments of menace to the visitors with his dribbling skills and blistering pace. He scored the long-awaited goal, but not more than one.
“My concentration got weaker as the night wore on,” Yun said. “I had many chances but I was only able to turn one of them into a goal.”
Korea’s first shooting came in four minutes as Ko Yo-han volleyed Yun’s left cross that missed the right cross.
Three minutes later, Kim Dong-seob at the right edge of the penalty box fired a shot, only to be blocked by the goalkeeper.
Japan’s first and only serious chance in the first half came when Kakitani received a long pass in the 24th minute, but he made no mistake.
Yun had a chance to score just before the first-half whistle, but his right-foot shot missed the upper post by whisker.
Mistakes in the goalmouth continued in the second half.
Hong tried to change the mood by substituting Ko Mu-yeol and Kim Shin-wook minutes before the final whistle to shore up attacking capability near the penalty area, but it did not work.
Meanwhile, Kakitani got another critical chance that connected the net in the 91 minutes.
For the past three games, Hong showed improvements in midfielder line which blocked the Japanese attacking chances in advance. But Korea’s poor finishing still remained the task to figure.
S. Korea upset Japan in women’s event
South Korea stunned the reigning Women’s World Cup champion Japan 2-1 Saturday in the final, which helped North Korea win its first title of the event.
Ji So-yun scored two goals at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. It was South Korea’s first win of the tournament after losing the first two matches.
Japan finished second with four points, followed by South Korea and China with three points apiece. But South Korea took the third place in the goal difference.