Two first-half goals proved enough to help defending champions Japan overcome Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals of the AFC U-16 Championship on Sunday.

Kenyu Sugimoto gave Japan the lead with 38 minutes gone at MHSK Stadium before Saudi Arabia midfielder Abdullah Otayf diverted Yuki Horigome’s cross into his own net in the last minute of the opening period to seal both a place in the semi-finals and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The game initially got off to a sluggish start before Japan began to gain the upper hand but despite controlling midfield, they could not threaten the Saudi goal.

Indeed it was the Saudis who had the best chance of the opening half-hour as Mohammed Al Asiri took advantage of a slip by Japan’s defender Koji Takano to break into the area but fired the ball into the side netting.

Japan then had a sight of goal after 35 minutes when Gaku Shibasaki fired wide but they eventually took the lead three minutes later.

Takashi Usami saw an effort cleared for a corner which he subsequently took and from which Sugimoto headed home the opener.

Japan doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Horigome’s centre from the left flank was unintentionally re-directed by Otayf past Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Fawaz Al Khaibari and into his own net.

Japan coach Yutaka Ikeuchi brought on striker Takumi Miyayoshi, who scored four goals during the group stage, at half-time and Japan’s attacking play improved significantly as they created more chances at the start of the second period.

They thought they had scored a third goal five minutes after the break when Koji Takano got on the end of Usami’s free-kick and found the back of the net but his effort was disallowed for offside.

Japan had another opportunity just before the hour mark as Sugimoto picked up the ball on the left and drove into the box but Al Khaibari turned his shot behind for a corner.

Saudi Arabia threatened to pull a goal back in the 65th minute but Ahmed Al Oufi’s cross from the left was headed over by substitute Abdulrahim Al Khamis.

Japan were next to go close one minute later when Usami’s strike from inside the area was well saved by the Al Khaibari before the Saudi keeper denied Miyayoshi after 71 minutes when he blocked his close-range shot.

Usami nearly added to Japan’s tally five minutes later but his shot from outside the area was tipped over the crossbar by Al Khaibari, who also turned a Kyohei Uchida effort behind with 11 minutes remaining.