Football: Japan down China, to face South Korea for East Asian title
Defending champions Japan moved to a 2-0 win-loss record to join hosts South Korea at the top of the four-team table, and the two teams will meet Tuesday for the title.
Mao Hosoya got world No. 17 Japan on the scoresheet against 94th-ranked China with a powerful strike from just outside the box in the 11th minute at Yongin Mireu Stadium in a Seoul suburb.
Six minutes later, China had a great chance to equalize, but Japan goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa denied Zhang Yuning in a one-on-one situation.
Henry Heroki Mochizuki doubled the Samurai Blue's lead in the 64th minute with his first goal for Japan.
"I think my goal came out of my aggressiveness," the 23-year-old Machida Zelvia player said. "I tried to join the attack as much as possible. I know I still have a lot to work on in both attack and defense, but I'll try to get better and cement my place on the team."
Japan's E-1 championship squad has been selected entirely from the domestic J-League by manager Hajime Moriyasu. Veteran defender Yuto Nagatomo, 38, made his first Japan appearance since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Both China and Hong Kong have lost two matches in a row.
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