The Japan Under-20 national team were eliminated from the FIFA Under-20 World Cup after a 1-0 Round of 16 loss to Venezuela in extra-time.

Atsushi Uchiyama’s side defended strongly in the first half, with tournament star Ritsu Doan narrowly missing his fourth goal of the tournament in the 29th minute when his free-kick struck the cross bar.

Japan refused to yield to their South American opponents in the second half, but the team’s journey across Korea ended in extra time when Yangel Herrera scored the winner in the 108th-minute for Venezuela following a corner kick.

After a 10-year absence from the tournament, Japan matched their results in 2007 and 2005 but were unable to repeat their best-ever runners-up finish to Spain in 1999.