At the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, the U-22 Japanese national soccer team faced off against the U-24 South Korean squad in a high-stakes showdown. Despite a valiant effort, Japan had to settle for silver, marking their second consecutive silver medal after missing out on gold for 13 years since the 2010 Guangzhou Games. South Korea celebrated their remarkable third consecutive victory.

The match had everyone on the edge of their seats, with Japan taking an early lead thanks to Kotaro Uchino's (19) goal just two minutes into the game. However, South Korea clawed their way back to level the score at 1-1 before half-time. In the second half, Japan faltered defensively, allowing South Korea to snatch the winning goal, ultimately sealing Japan's fate with a final score of 1-2.

This marked the first time in the tournament that Japan had to chase the game. Despite introducing fresh legs to bolster their offense, Japan struggled to break through South Korea's resolute defense.

In the end, Japan's efforts fell short, as they couldn't find the equalizer during the six minutes of additional time. South Korea's strong performance denied Japan their second gold medal since 2010, leaving them with a well-earned silver.