NEWS

DOHA – Japan moved one step closer to the Asian title on Tuesday after edging Korea Republic 3-0 on penalties following a 2-2 extra-time draw in the semifinals of the Asian Cup at Al Gharafa Stadium in Doha.

In the penalty shootout, Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima blocked Korea’s first two shots – from Koo Ja Cheol and Lee Yong Rae – while their third kicker Hong Jeong Ho placed his penalty wide.
Keisuke Honda and Shinji Okazaki scored Japan’s first two penalties before Yuto Nagatomo blasted his effort high. Yasuyuki Konno then thumped the ball into the back of the net to send Japan into the final, where they will face Australia or Uzbekistan.

Earlier, Ryoichi Maeda cancelled out a penalty by Ki Sung Yueng and Japan took the lead seven minutes into extra time when Hajime Hosogai followed up a missed penalty by Honda. But Hwang Jae Won drew the teams level in the 120th minute.

Japan played positive football from the start against the Koreans, who had also gone to extra time in their quarterfinal win over Iran.
But Kawashima was called into action in the 15th minute when he made a fine save from Ki’s free-kick. Lee Yong Rae reacted with a header at the far side, but Yasuyuki Konno put in a great block.
Three minutes later, Okazaki powered in a great header from a Nagatomo cross, but Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung Ryong saved superbly and tipped the ball onto the post.
In the 22nd minute, Saudi Arabian referee Khalil Al Ghamdi penalized Konno for a shove on Park Ji Sung and awarded a penalty.
Ki converted the spot kick to put Korea 1-0 up.

Japan continued to attack and Honda had a good header from a cross by Atsuto Uchida – back after suspension – in the 27th minute, while Korea also had a chance with Koo Ja Cheol’s header five minutes later.
Japan levelled the scores in the 36th minute. Cesena defender Nagatomo latched on to a brilliant through ball from Honda on the left before cutting inside and feeding Maeda, who side-footed the ball home under pressure from two Korean defenders.

After the break, the Koreans defended tighter and frustrated Japan while attacking with speed and power, and creating a number of scoring chances through Koo, Ki and Cho Yong Hyung.
Japan came close when Okazaki hit from outside the box in the 79th minute and again two minutes later when he headed a Honda cross high, but it was 1-1 after 90 minutes and the game went to extra time.

In the 97th minute, Okazaki was brought down by Hwang Jae Won and the referee awarded a penalty.
Korea keeper Jung Sung Ryong guessed right and blocked Honda’s kick, but substitute Hajime Hosogai, who replaced Shinji Kagawa in the 87th minute, dashed in to blast the ball into the roof of the net and put Japan 2-1 up.

Korea then threw everything they had at Japan and had two good chances from Koo Ja Cheol as Japan held on desperately.
But in the final minute, Japan substitute Takuya Honda conceded a free-kick and in the ensuing goalmouth scramble, Hwang was able to fire the ball home from 10 meters out, setting up the dramatic penalty shootout.