Japan 2 South Korea 2 – Pen 3-0

Japan qualified for the Asian Cup final after a dramatic penalty shootout victory against South Korea on Tuesday.

Alberto Zaccheroni’s side booked their place thanks to spot-kicks from Keisuke Honda, Shinji Okazaki and Yasuyuki Konno, while goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima was the hero, saving two penalties in the shootout.

Both sides finished the 90 minutes locked at 1-1, before Hajime Hosogai’s extra-time goal looked like it would send Japan through, only for Hwang Jae-Won to equalise in the 120th minute.

Shinji Okazaki nearly gave Japan the perfect start when his early header flashed wide while South Korea also threatened, as Ki Sung-Yong’s free-kick was well saved by Kawashima before Lee Chung-Yong’s follow-up was cleared by Atsuto Uchida.

Japan continued to press and only the hands of Jung Sung-Ryong and the woodwork denied Okazaki after the brilliant Yuto Nagatomo broke down the left and provided a precise cross.

South Korea took the lead when Konno’s innocuous challenge on Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung resulted in a harsh penalty decision, with Ki stepping up and converting the spot-kick with aplomb.

Japan responded when Honda drew three defenders before releasing Nagatomo down the left, who produced a defence-splitting pass for Ryoichi Maeda to score from six yards.

Honda exerted his dominance on the game as Japan controlled the early stages of the second half, though they could not create clear-cut chances.

South Korea then snatched the ascendancy in a scintillating 15-minute period in which Koo Ja-Cheol went close twice before Lee Yong-Rae’s free-kick flew just wide.

Okazaki headed over a Honda cross with full-time nearing but the 90 minutes petered out as both sides braced for extra time.

Ki and Koo both had early attempts in the added period for South Korea before another questionable penalty was given, when Okazaki was checked on the edge of the area by Hwang.

Honda’s effort from the penalty spot was saved by Jung, but substitute Hosogai was quickest to react as he smashed the rebound into the back of the net.

Moments later, Nagatomo hit the post from an acute angle as Japan looked to double their lead, while South Korea had half-chances of their own through Koo and Ki.

Japan were made to pay for trying to defend their lead, as an improperly cleared free-kick led to a series of blocks and deflections before Hwang hammered the ball home to spark wild South Korean celebrations.

But those proved to be premature, as South Korea missed all three of their penalties, while Japan scored on three of their four attempts to book a place in the tournament decider.