Japan secured their fifth Under-17 Asian Cup title by beating China 3-2 in the final held in Jeddah [1, 2]. Japan raced to a commanding three-goal lead by halftime, with Tafuku Satomi, Kakeru Saito, and Maki Kitahara each scoring to put their team ahead [1, 2].
China mounted a comeback in the second half, with Wan Xiang scoring in the 48th minute and Zhao Songyuan converting a penalty in the 79th minute to narrow the deficit [1, 2]. Despite China's efforts, Japan held on to extend their record as the team with the most Under-17 Asian Cup titles, capturing their fifth championship overall [1, 2]. This victory also marked Japan's third Under-17 Asian Cup title in the last four tournaments, demonstrating their dominance at this youth level [1, 2].
On the same weekend, Kashima Antlers and Vissel Kobe advanced to the final of the J League 100 Year Vision tournament, highlighting key developments in Japanese club football [1, 2].
In Chinese Super League action, Chengdu Rongcheng's lead was reduced to 10 points after a 2-0 loss to Dalian Yingbo, while Chongqing Tonglianglong closed the gap by beating Qingdao Hainiu 1-0 thanks to a goal from George Cimpanu [1, 2].
Japan's Under-17 Asian Cup victory caps a weekend of significant football results across Asia. The J League 100 Year Vision final featuring Kashima Antlers and Vissel Kobe is set to be played soon, offering a chance for one of Japan’s top clubs to claim the trophy [1, 2].