'We move on' - Yoshida defiant after Asian Cup heartbreak

Japan captain Maya Yoshida promised the Blue Samurai would come back stronger after suffering a shock 3-1 defeat by Qatar in the Asian Cup final.

A moment of magic from Qatar striker Almoez Ali after just 12 minutes stunned Japan in Abu Dhabi on Friday, before a brilliant second from Abdelaziz Hatim and a controversial late penalty gave the 2022 World Cup hosts a historic first Asian title.

A distraught Yoshida blasted Japan's naivety after the game but refused to make excuses.

"It's difficult to describe how it feels," he told AFP. "We were too passive, a bit naive and made so many mistakes. We conceded two goals at the beginning of the game which we shouldn't have -- we simply weren't good enough.

"But they played well and deserve to be champions," added Yoshida. "No excuses, we move on."
- Scant consolation -
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"We have to lift ourselves and take the right energy into the Copa America and the (2022) World Cup qualifiers."