Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Saudi Arabia missed out on a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC U23 Championship by the narrowest of margins as Group B winners Japan completed a 100% record with a 2-1 win at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadiumon Tuesday thanks to goals from Ryota Ohshima and Yosuke Ideguchi.
Ohshima opened the scoring for Japan, who were already assured of a last eight meeting with Iran on Friday following earlier wins over DPR Korea and Thailand, with a superb solo effort midway through the first half before Ideguchi increased the lead at the start of the second half.
And despite Abdullah Madu’s penalty reducing the deficit just before the hour mark, DPR Korea’s 2-2 draw with Thailand meant DPR Korea claimed second place in Group B ahead of Saudi Arabia having scored one more goal after all three sides finished level on two points behind Japan.