The Hindu : Sport / Football : Japan aiming for maiden title

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Sunday, Nov 12, 2006
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Japan aiming for maiden title

Principal Correspondent

KOLKATA: Japan would be aiming to win its first title in the AFC Youth championship when it takes on DPR Korea in the final at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday.

Japan, which has reached the final on five occasions, is the favourite as it has beaten the same opposition on two occasions before. In the first meeting in a qualifying round held almost a year ago it won 1-0 and again in the final round match at Bangalore, two weeks ago, it won 2-0.

Japan's defence will be tested as Tomoaki Makino, who received a red card in a hard-fought semifinal win against Korea Republic, will have to sit out.

The team's other specialist defender, Masaki Yanagawa, has already left the side to rejoin his club.

Japan's coach, Yasushi Yoshida, said that he would play one of his midfielders in the defence and would rely on his team's superior attacking ability to offset the setback.

DPR Korea's plans

DPR Korea has its own plans for the final. "We will be playing a new match tomorrow. We have played Japan before and would try something new to get result in our favour,'' said its coach Tong Sop Jo.

The team has shown the ability to perform well against tough opponents like Iraq and Jordan. Jo felt that his team's showing in the elimination stages was quite encouraging and hoped that his boys would bring out their best in the final.

DPR Korea, which won the title jointly with Iran in 1976 and lost to Korea Republic in the final in 1990, would be looking to regain the title after a break of 30 years.

Korea Republic and Jordan will meet in the third-place playoff before the final clash.

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