From the opening whistle, the young Samurai Blue imposed their game through scientific ball control, compact positioning, and relentless pressing. U23 China found little room to operate, often trapped in a reactive, defensive stance.

The breakthrough came early in the 12th minute when Yuto Ozeki capitalized on a loose ball in the box and finished coolly. Just eight minutes later, Kosei Ogura doubled the lead with a stunning strike from distance that left goalkeeper Li Hao helpless.

The second half saw more of the same. Sato Ryunosuke calmly converted a penalty in the 59th minute, and Ogura completed his brace in the 76th, sealing a comprehensive 4-0 victory.

Beyond the scoreline, this was a statement of Japan’s consistency, mental fortitude, and technical class - hallmarks of a true champion on the continental stage.

Scorers: Ozeki (12'), Ogura (20', 76'), Sato (59')

Starting lineups:

U23 China: Li Hao, Hu Hetao, Wumitijiang Yusupu, Liu Haofan, Yang Alex, Peng Xiao, Xu Bin, Li Zhenquan, Yimingkari, Wang Yudong, Xiang Yuwang
U23 Japan: Araki, Nagano, Koizumi, Ichihara, Umeki, Ozeki, Ogura, Sato, Furuya, Yokohama, Nwadike

Post-match honors:

Araki (Japan) was named Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.
Nguyen Dinh Bac (Vietnam) claimed the Top Scorer award with four goals and two assists.
Sato (Japan) was recognized as Player of the Tournament.
U23 South Korea received the Fair Play Award.
U23 China finished as runners-up.

Match summary highlights:

From the outset, Japan took full control. Their first goal came after a right-wing combination allowed Ozeki to turn and shoot - his effort deflected off a defender and into the net, finally breaching Li Hao’s clean sheet record.

Just minutes later, Ogura’s thunderous shot from outside the box gave Japan a 2-0 cushion. China struggled to respond, failing to register a single shot in the first half.

Despite trailing, U23 China found no answer. Even their brief pressure in the second half yielded little, with an offside goal chalked off and most attacks stalling outside the penalty area.

The third goal came via a handball by captain Liu Haofan, and Sato made no mistake from the spot. Ogura then completed the rout, pouncing on a loose ball in the box for his second goal of the night.

As the final whistle blew, Japan stood tall - victors of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, their third title in history, and a team that once again showcased the depth of talent and discipline in Japanese football.

Thien Binh