A Night of Humiliation for Japanese Football... Japan Vowed Revenge, but Fell to South Korea in the Asian Games Final for the Third Straight Time [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] Once or twice can happen. But three times leaves no room for excuses. No excuse will do. Above all, the defeat came on home soil. 
The nightmare of a Korea-Japan final at the Asian Games continued for Japan's football team, even on home soil. As Japan sharpened its sword for revenge and prepared a home-ground spectacle, Lee Min-sung's side once again delivered a harsh lesson, plunging Toyota Stadium into a vast cauldron of silence.
The South Korea national under-23 football team, coached by Lee Min-sung, decisively defeated archrival Japan 1-0 in the men's football final at the 2026 Asian Games at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on October 3. Eom Ji-sung of Swansea City Association Football Club scored the winning goal in the 16th minute of the second half.
The victory delivered a thrill far beyond a gold medal. Japan had been more fired up than ever ahead of the final because it had fallen to South Korea in consecutive finals, losing 1-2 at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang and 1-2 at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. Japan had been forced to settle for silver both times.

Japanese media invoked the phrase "third time's the charm" and boldly claimed that things would be different at home. Japan coach Go Oiwa also foreshadowed a fierce revenge match, saying, "We will pour out all the anger we felt from the two defeats." It was an ambitious plan to reclaim the gold medal for the first time in 16 years in front of the home crowd.
But once the match began, Japan's confident declarations proved to be nothing more than a "dream." Shut down by South Korea's solid defense early on, Japan struggled to make an impact. It increased the pressure after halftime but had little to show for it.
Instead, Japan was rattled by a single incisive counterattack and was struck at its most vulnerable point.
In the 16th minute of the second half, Yang Min-hyeok of Westerlo won the ball with a spirited press, setting the move in motion. After a cross, Eom Ji-sung picked up the ball amid the scramble. He feinted a right-footed shot, completely wrong-footed the Japanese defense, and calmly unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike that rippled the net.
It was an exhilarating moment as tens of thousands of Japanese home fans who had expected victory froze in shock.

Japan, now desperate, mounted wave after wave of attacks, including one that struck the post, but could not break through South Korea's tenacious, suffocating defense and physical defending.
When the final whistle blew, Japan's dream of making "third time's the charm" come true ended as the grim saga of three consecutive Korea-Japan final defeats.
By flattening the pride of Japan, which had been determined to avenge its past defeats on home soil, South Korea built a historic milestone rarely seen in world football: the first four-peat in Asian Games history, winning consecutive titles in 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026.
In particular, after defeating Japan in the finals of baseball, men's and women's basketball, and women's handball at the Nagoya Games, South Korea's men's football team capped a perfect sweep of Korea-Japan finals in ball sports. It gave Japanese football fans a night of humiliation they will never forget.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter