Kitahara, who finished the tournament with Most Valuable Player and Top Goalscorer awards, played a decisive role in the final by scoring Japan’s third goal in a dominant first-half display that ultimately proved enough despite a nervy finish.
“We played a brilliant first half and built a 3-0 lead. In the second half, some of the same weaknesses we’ve shown in the past came through again but the entire team - including the defensive line - worked together to see out the game and win the title,” said the FC Tokyo U-18 midfielder. .....
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