"South Korea has a long history of soccer, and we respect them. Of course, we want the players to enjoy a good match," Japanese U-23 national team coach Hajime Moriyasu said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Asia`s two soccer teams, namely Japan and South Korea, have advanced to the final match after they defeated their rivals earlier in the 2018 Asian Games.

The tight match between the two best soccer teams to grab a gold medal will be held at the Pakansari stadium in Bogor District on Saturday (Sept 1) at 6:30 p.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB).

The Japanese U-23 National Team has been waiting for the match against South Korea`s U-23 National Team even before leaving for Jakarta to participate in the 18th Asian Games.

Although South Korea had superior players in terms of quality and physicality, Japan is eagerly waiting to meet the former in the final match, according to Japanese midfielder Kouta Watanabe.

"Prior to this tournament, we were looking for an opportunity to compete against South Korea. Therefore, I feel excited and want to enjoy the match," Watanabe stated after the match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which ended 1-0 at the Cibinong Pakansari Stadium in Bogor, on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, the Japanese U-23 national team coach Hajime Moriyasu noted that his team`s match against the U-23 National Team of South Korea in the final round of the Asian Games men`s soccer branch would definitely be a fierce match.

"South Korea is a strong rival. Playing against South Korea in the final will definitely be fierce," Moriyasu remarked, adding that all players must be 100 percent prepared to facing South Korea to show their best performance.

He also argued that the final match between Japan and South Korea is a match between the best football teams at the Asian level.

"South Korea has a long history of soccer, and we respect them. Of course, we want the players to enjoy a good match," Moriyasu stated.

He remarked that even though the soccer competition at the Asian Games was the U-23 national team, this is still the best soccer tournament in Asia.

Japan advanced to the final round after silencing the U-23 National Team of the UAE, with a score of 1-0 in the 2018 Asian Games men?s soccer semi-final match at the Cibinong Pakansari Stadium on Wednesday night.

Despite playing through the first half without a goal, Japan managed to score a goal in the second half through a powerful kick from substitute Ayase Ueda.

In the second half, Japan continued to increase attacks, although the attack was deviated or broken by the UAE defense line several times. The UAE attacked more often through the opportunity to counterattack.

Japanese midfielder Daizen Maeda stabbed into the opponent?s defense several times and fired a direct kick, but his shot deviated from the target several times.

The game, which was dominated by Japan and the solid defense of the Rising Sun Country team, was difficult to be handled by the UAE.

Finally, Japan managed to break the deadlock by breaking the UAE goal in the 78th minute through a kick from Ueda. The ball was taken by midfielder Kouta Watanabe of UAE through clean tackles, which then provided breakthrough passes at Ueda.

Ueda managed to convert the piercing pass with a hard goal, which hit the bar and bounced off the ground first. Japan won 1-0 at the end of the match.

At the time left, the UAE tried to pressure it to equalize. Despite the attacks, UAE still could not score a goal against Japan.

On the other hand, the South Korean U-23 National Team player, who is also a Tottenham Hotspur star Heung Min Son, said his team was ready to face anyone in the final.

"I am in Indonesia to win something. Whoever is the rival, we would remain ready. We are quite strong mentally and physically. We will do everything in the final match," Son revealed at the Cibinong Bogor Pakansari Stadium on Wednesday.

Son, who was included in the main squad of Tottenham Hotspur, claimed his team was eager to win. He also stated he was physically prepared despite having suffered a thigh injury before the semi-final match against Vietnam.

"The injury is getting better. I think I can be 100 percent fit when I appear in the finals. I will try to give everything," Son, who is an Asian player who competed in the English Premier League, asserted.

South Korea won 3-1 in the men`s soccer semi-final match against Vietnam .

South Korea is strengthened by four players who played in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, namely Son Heung Min, Jo Hyeonwoo, Lee Seungwoo, and Hwang Hee Chan.

The public pay more attention to Son because he is a mainstay player of the English League club Tottenham Hotspur.

A total of 25 soccer teams participating in the 18th Asian Games, namely Indonesia, Hong Kong, Laos, Chinese Taipei, Palestine, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Qatar, China, Timor-leste, Syria, Japan, Vietnam, Pakistan, Nepal, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirate, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Myanmar, are divided into six groups (from A to F).

Editing by Andi Abdussalam

Reporter: Bustanuddin
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018