A splendid goal in the dying minutes by forward Kola Aoki enabled Japan subdue a fighting Saudi Arabia 2-1 and enter the semi-finals of the Asian Football Confederation Youth Championship at the Sri Kanteerava stadium in Bangalore on Monday.
Japan, five-time finalists, led 1-0 at half-time through a fine header in the seventh minute by Kazuhlsa Kawahara.
Both teams thereafter worked hard to outsmart each other.
Aoki, who replaced Kawahara (63rd minute), did a stupendous job in intercepting a neat pass from Yosuka Kashiwagi and fired the ball into the net in the 87th minute.
In another match in Kolkata, Korea beat Australia to also make it to the semi-finals.
While Japan dominated the proceedings in the first half, played in rain and slipper conditions, the Saudis were at their best in the second session.
Saudi Arabia, two-time winners of the AFC championship, found the equaliser when Jufain Ali Albishi scored off a penalty kick in the 81st minute.
Referee S Hilali Abdullah Mohamed of Oman awarded the penalty when Japanese defenders obstructed Saudi defenders Hasir Alselimi and H Hazazi near the post.
Albishi who took the kick made no mistake and booted home to make it one all.
As the match seemed heading towards extra-time, Aoki struck the winning goal for Japan.
With today's victory, Japan has qualified for the World Youth Cup, to be held in Canada next year.
Saudi Arabian coach, Nunes Gilson, despite the loss, appreciated the performance of his players.
He said the team changed tactics, from defence in the first to offense in the second session, hoping to turn tables against Japan.
Gilson did not agree with a question on whether Saudi Arabia should have replaced goalkeeper H Shaian.
"Initially the goalkeeper was nervous, but later settled down well," he said.
Japanese Coach Yoshida Yasushi said his boys were undeterred and played a cool game when the teams were locked 1-1.
"We did not change our strategy and stuck to the original plan," he added.
North Korea, Jordan in semis
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) beat Iraq 2-0 in another quarter-final match, played under lights.
Captain Kim Kum II gave the Koreans the lead in the 34th minute; Yun Yong II made it 2-0 in the 67th minute.
DPR Korea also booked their berth in the semi-finals, where it will meet Jordan, in Kolkata.
Jordan beat China 2-1 in the fourth quarter-final.
Jordan dominated the exchanges to open up a 1-0 lead at the breather with L A Zaideh finding the mark.
Abdallah Salim fired home a penalty to make the scoreline 2-0, before Xu Yang scored the reducer for China.
