The South Korean men’s national team failed to retain its title in a regional football tournament as it lost to Japan 3-0.

Team Korea, headed by Paulo Bento, fell to Japan to finish second at the the East Asian Football Federation(EAFF) E-1 Football Championship at Toyota Stadium in Japan's Aichi Prefecture on Wednesday.

Although the two sides went into the second half tied, the Korean team, largely depleted of its Europe-based starters, conceded three goals in the second half in their last match of the tournament.

After defeating both China and Hong Kong 3-0 in the first and second match, South Korea sought to grab the fourth consecutive EAFF title.

Japan captured the title for the first time in nine years since 2013.