The South Korean men's hockey team secured a comeback victory against Japan, advancing to the semifinals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Under the guidance of head coach Min Tae-seok, South Korea defeated Japan 3-2 in the final group stage match of Pool A, held on September 28 at the Gakumigahara Green Stadium in Gifu Prefecture.
With this win, South Korea finished the group stage with a record of four wins and one loss (12 points), securing second place in the group and a spot in the semifinals. In contrast, Japan ended with three wins and two losses (9 points), relegating them to the 5th to 8th place playoffs.
This match was crucial for both teams, as they entered with equal points, but South Korea was trailing Japan on goal difference, sitting in third place. The pressure was on South Korea to win to advance.
The game started off shaky for South Korea, conceding the first goal to Koji Yamasaki just four minutes into the first quarter.
However, South Korea regrouped and fought back. With just one minute left in the second quarter, Yang Ji-hoon (Gimhae City Hall) scored from a penalty corner, leveling the match at 1-1.
Building on their momentum, South Korea turned the game around in the second half. They earned a penalty stroke three minutes before the end of the third quarter, which Yang Ji-hoon calmly converted to give South Korea a 2-1 lead.
In the fourth quarter, South Korea maintained their offensive pressure and earned another penalty stroke. Lim Jin-gang (Incheon City Sports Council) executed it flawlessly, extending the lead to 3-1. Although Japan's Raiki Fujishima scored from a penalty corner just before the final whistle, South Korea held on for a one-goal victory.
The South Korean men's hockey team aims to reclaim the Asian Games title for the first time since the 2006 Doha Games. The tournament champion will earn a direct ticket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
In the semifinals, South Korea will face Malaysia, who topped Pool B with a perfect record of five wins.
The semifinal match between South Korea and Malaysia is scheduled for October 1 at 7 PM at the same venue.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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