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The holders set the tone early and never loosened their grip, scoring twice in the first half before adding two more after the break to complete a comprehensive performance that left China chasing shadows for long stretches.
Japan broke the deadlock in the 12th minute after sustained pressure. Yuto Ozeki reacted quickest to a rebound inside the box and finished from close range, with a deflection off Peng Xiao wrong-footing goalkeeper Li Hao. The goal, confirmed after a brief VAR check, was China’s first concession of the tournament.
The advantage was doubled eight minutes later through an outstanding individual effort from Kosei Ogura. Pressing high, the midfielder won possession on the edge of the area, powered past a defender and unleashed a fierce strike into the far corner, giving Li no chance.
China attempted to respond with direct play and long passes, but Japan’s compact, well-organized defense limited them to few clear openings. By halftime, Japan had registered eight shots, four times China’s total, and carried a deserved 2-0 lead into the break.
Japan resumed with the same intensity after halftime. Ozeki and Ryunosuke Sato both went close as the champions looked to put the game beyond doubt. The decisive moment arrived in the 57th minute when Liu Haofan was penalized for a handball in the area. Despite protests from China, replays showed the decision was clear. Sato remained composed from the spot, calmly sending Li the wrong way to make it 3-0.
China briefly thought they had pulled one back in the 68th minute with a tap-in, but the effort was ruled out for offside. Any hopes of a late revival were extinguished in the 76th minute when Japan scored their fourth. An attack down the left was partially cleared, only for Ogura’s shot to take a deflection off a defender and loop past a helpless Li.
Even with the result beyond doubt, Japan continued to press and control possession, reflecting the discipline and ambition that have defined their tournament. Only two minutes of stoppage time were added as the final whistle confirmed another emphatic triumph.
The victory cements Japan’s status as the dominant force at U23 level in Asia, having won the title in 2016 and 2024, while China were left to reflect on a final in which they were outmatched in both intensity and execution.
U23 Asian Cup final: Japan 4-0 China
