The final round of the East Asian Football Championships 2010 Finals Competition saw a fierce clash between Japan and Korea Rep., two teams who have both qualified for the FIFA World Cup South Africa, which Korea Rep. won 3-1. Korea Rep. finished the tournament with a record of 2 wins, 1 loss in second place and Japan, who needed to win by 2 goals or more to secure the title, finished with a record of 1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss in third place, their lowest finish in history. With a record of 2 wins, 1 draw it was China PR who were named champions for the first time in 2 tournaments.

In a legendary game played in front of 42,951 people the match turned fierce with each team having a player sent off and Korea Rep. winning in the end. The match began with home team, Japan’s, passing in the mid-field giving them the advantage over Korea Rep. Then in the 23rd minute, with the momentum behind them, DF TANAKA Marcus Tulio was fouled by an opposition DF to earn a PK following a set piece. MF ENDO Yasuhito scored with his right foot to open the scoring for Japan.

However Korea Rep. didn’t want a repeat of the 0-3 drubbing by China PR a match earlier and were quick to respond with an attack of their own in the 33rd minute when MF KIM Bo Kyung dribbled in to the area and earned a PK of his own. FW LEE Dong Gook struck spectacularly to equalize for Korea Rep. and immediately turn the match around. In the 39th minute MF KIM Jung Woo opened up the right side and passed for 20 year old FW LEE Seung Yeoul to control and hit a hard long range left footed shot. This shot hit an opposition player and changed course and from their went over the GK’s head and in.
Having conceded Korea Rep. knew “If we can take this chance then we can take our future chances too (including June’s FIFA World Cup)” as the team came back stronger than ever thanks to the 20 year old’s goal. GK LEE Woon Jae said “We conceded straight away after conceding against China PR and couldn’t change the momentum of the game after that. We had that experience so this time we were able to come back immediately and return the match to suit us”. By changing the momentum from bad to good Korea Rep. were not only able to come back on the score board but more importantly put pressure on Japan.

The momentum swung back and forth as each defense tackled hard in front of goal but had also conceded from such pressure too. In the 41st minute a left sided FK taken by ENDO ended up in a goal mouth scramble and fight from which TANAKA Marcus Tulio was shown a red card. Japan were now at a numerical disadvantage and within 20 seconds of the second half starting Korea Rep. took advantage when a through pass released LEE Dong Gook whose shot hit the cross bar. Korea Rep. were on the ascendancy and in the 52nd minute KIM Jung Woo was shown his second yellow card and also sent off. Japan couldn’t capitalize on this and they were unable to make it count on the score board.

In the 55th minute ENDO tried his luck from a long distance shot and in the 58th minute DF UCHIDA Atsuto played a one-two with ENDO to make some space on the right as Japan pushed forward. But Korea Rep. stayed tight at the back thanks to DF CHO Yong Hyung and Japan were unable to open them up. Then in the 70th minute Korea Rep. made the breakthrough. DF PARK Joo Ho was involved in a one-two which allowed KIM Bo Kyung to progress forward and play another one-two with FW LEE Keun Ho to break up the left. Then MF KIM Jae Sung received the cross in front of goal and slotted home with his right foot to stick the knife into Japan.

After the decisive 3rd goal Korea Rep.’s defense remained unbeatable to the end. Head coach HUH Jung Moo was pleased saying “We were concerned about the Japanese offensive line. But our back line played well and reassured me. The players really performed well.” As for Japan head coach OKADA Takeshi he had no regrets saying We lost the ball trying too much and conceded a goal. We had a bad habit in the second half of not beginning our attacks out wide. I am very sorry we weren’t able to win at home”. The bragging rights of this rivalry went to the away team, Korea Rep., winners by 3-1.