The South Korean men's national field hockey team defeated Japan to advance to the semifinals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Led by head coach Min Tae-seok, the national team edged Japan 3-2 in their final Group A match held on the 28th at the Kakamigahara Green Stadium in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.

With 12 points (4 wins and 1 loss), South Korea secured second place in the group, guaranteeing a spot in the semifinals.

South Korea's opponent for the semifinals, set to take place at the same venue on October 1 at 7:00 PM, is likely to be Malaysia, which finished first in Group B with 15 points (5 wins and no losses).

Until the previous day, South Korea and Japan were tied with 9 points each (3 wins and 1 loss), but South Korea lagged far behind Japan in goal difference, meaning a win against Japan was an absolute must to reach the semifinals.

After conceding the first goal in the first quarter, South Korea leveled the score 1-1 just before the end of the second quarter with a penalty corner goal by Yang Ji-hoon (Gimhae City Hall), ending the first half tied.

In the third quarter, Yang Ji-hoon turned the game around by scoring from a penalty stroke, which is similar to a penalty kick in soccer.

In the fourth quarter, Lim Jin-kang (Incheon Sports Council) added another goal via a penalty stroke to extend the lead to 3-1.

Having seized momentum, South Korea limited Japan's comeback to a single goal and grabbed the ticket to the semifinals.

(Photo courtesy of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee, Yonhap News)