Japan's second round of Group B action was in full swing, and despite making seven changes to their starting lineup, they were able to avoid the United Arab Emirates with a 0:0 draw with only two changes, setting the stage for the knockout stage.
With this win, I was pleased to observe that the Blue Knights have made significant improvements in both offense and defense, as they created many waves of offense, and I believe that they are expected to win by a more overwhelming score.
The Japan-Korea matchup has traditionally been a sparkling affair, but in a heated battle, Japan seemed to have the key to victory thanks to the composure of Yamamoto's players.
South Korea also secured a spot in the knockout rounds after topping China 2:0 in the previous round.
Early in the game, the Korean team was under tremendous pressure as the defensive end exposed some gaps. Fortunately, Lee Young-joon stepped up to the plate and once again showed his ballerina skills, helping his team turn the game around with a two-goal performance. So far, he has scored three goals in this tournament.
Although the defensive end is still shaky and Korea needs to adjust their tactics, Lee Young-joon's excellent play makes them a threat on the counterattack.
Both sides have already locked up a spot in the knockout rounds, but the winner will lock up the top spot in the group. Given South Korea's problems on the defensive end, I think Japan is capable of taking all three points in this matchup and winning the group.
