Yoichiro Kakitani completed a brace with a dramatic winner as Japan won its first East Asian Cup title by beating host South Korea 2-1 in Sunday's tournament finale.

The Cerezo Osaka striker broke the deadlock with his second goal in as many games in the 25th minute and snatched victory in the dying embers after Yun Il-lok had leveled for the South Koreans.

Japan finished the tournament with seven points, two ahead of China, which beat Australia 4-3 earlier in the day. The result eased some pain after the Japanese women's national team was beaten 2-1 by South Korea on Saturday and denied a third consecutive title in the process.