Japan clinched the Under-23 Asian Cup after it beat Uzbekistan 1-0 on Friday, with an injury time penalty save by Leo Kokubo securing the trophy for Go Oiwa's side.

Substitute Fuki Yamada gave the Japanese squad the lead when he stroked his shot into the bottom corner of the Uzbek goal in the 91st minute, but a handball by Hiroki Sekine gifted Uzbekistan an opportunity to take the game into extra time.

Kokubo, however, dived to his right to keep out Umarali Rakhmanaliev's spot kick to give Japan its second under-23 title since 2016.

Japan and Uzbekistan went into the final at Doha's Jassim bin Hamad Stadium having already claimed two of Asia's three berths for the Olympics in Paris this summer, with the tournament serving as the continent's final eliminator for the Games.

Iraq took third place on Thursday with an extra-time win over Indonesia, who will play Guinea on May 9 in a playoff for the last remaining spot in the Games.

Japan's Leo Kokubo saves a penalty from Uzbekistan's Umarali Rakhmonaliyev during the final of the Under-23 Asian Cup in Doha on Friday.
Japan's Leo Kokubo saves a penalty from Uzbekistan's Umarali Rakhmonaliyev during the final of the Under-23 Asian Cup in Doha on Friday. | Reuters