Yangel Herrera headed Venezuela into a historic FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 quarter-final, with a 1-0 extra-time win over Japan booking them into the last eight for the first time.

It was an open affair right from the off, with the first raft of chances going the way of the tournament’s top scorers. Adalberto Penaranda, Yeferson Soteldo and Ronaldo Pena all came close in an opening 20 minutes that threatened to be a severely one-sided affair.

However, Ritsu Doan – who inspired with two goals against Italy – rattled the bar with a stinging free-kick to show the Asian champions were going to provide more than just their neat, mobile interplay. Akito Takagi fired just wide before the break to underline the point.

That momentum continued after half-time, with Doan releasing Koji Miyoshi to fire straight at advancing goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez. But Yangel Herrera’s free header – put just wide – dismissed any inclinations the game was getting away from the South Americans as they retook control of proceedings, but could not prevent extra-time.

When Herrera was presented with another opportunity, he did not spurn it, rising high at a corner and heading beyond Ryosuke Kojima with 12 minutes to go and earn the team their place in the last eight, and the history books.