Young squads from the three driving forces of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) aimed for the top of Asian football in the AFC U-22 Championship Oman 2013.
China, Japan and Korea Republic competed in the tournament held from the 11th to the 26th of January in the Middle Eastern state.

China joined Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan in the group stage but finished bottom with three losses.
However, the three group games were all close battles. Under caretaker coach Fu Bo, China kept showing their stubbornness.

In the opening game against Uzbekistan, Yang Chao-Sheng opened the scoring in the 35th minute. Holding their lead after 90 minutes, it seemed that China would make a winning start. However, the Central Asian team made it even in added time and then immediately found a goal to turn the game around and earn a 2-1 win.
China’s second game of the group against Saudi Arabia was also a tight contest. Already a goal behind, Luo Senwen pounced on an insufficient clearance from Saudi Arabia’s defender and scored a left-footed equaliser 12 minutes after the restart.
On 77 minutes, however, Saudi Arabia converted a decisive penalty given for Luo’s foul. China lost 0-1 in the final game against Iraq and left Oman unable to turn good performances into good results.

apan progressed to the final tournament as Group C runners-up. They shared the points with Iran after a six-goal thriller and then played out a scoreless draw against Kuwait. With Australia securing qualification after two games, Japan could seal the remaining last eight berth by beating them regardless of the other game’s result. Makoto Teguramori’s team have a tendency to show their quality in important matches. Leading 3-0 in the first half, they practically ended the game with another goal right after the restart. Japan stylishly decimated the defence of the Aussie team, who had not conceded a goal in the first two games.

apan faced Iraq in the quarter-finals.
Against a team in the last four of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 boasting many full internationals, Japan adopted a defensive approach in an attempt to earn a hard fought triumph. But on 84 minutes, Iraq found a gap in the opposing defence and scored the only goal of the game, seeing off Japan 1-0 in last eight.

Iraq maintained their momentum up to the final and eventually won the tournament.

It was Korea Republic who played against the eventual winners in the semi-finals after finishing Group A as runners-up.
They played out a 1-1 draw with Rim Chang-Woo’s goal in the first match against Jordan and comfortably beat Myanmar 3-0 with Baek Sung-Dong, Yun ll-Lok, and Moon Chang-Jin finding the net. After defeating Oman 2-0 in the final game of the group, Korea Republic sealed a place in the last four with a 2-1 victory against Syria.

But they finally fell against Iraq in the semi-finals by the same score line as Japan. Kim Kyung-Jung (SM Caen/France), the only member playing overseas, missed the game through suspension and it seemed to affect their football.

Korea Republic met Jordan again in the third-place play-off. The match ended scoreless following extra time and Jordan won 3-2 on penalties.
“I am disappointed with the result as our goal was to win the title,” said coach Lee Kwang-Jong showing his frustration after the match. But he added, with praise for his team, “Our players fought to their limit.”

While Middle Eastern sides generally had the advantage with the home-like atmosphere, the three teams from the EAFF each showed their presence. They arguably took a steady step towards the 31st Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.