Japan booked a place in the Asian Cup final when it overcame South Korea 3-0 on penalties after a 120th minute extra time strike completed a 2-2 draw at the Al Gharafa Stadium in Doha, Qatar, yesterday.

Three-time champion Japan will play the winner of the other semifinal between Uzbekistan and Australia in the final on Saturday.

Substitute Hajime Hosogai thought he had won the match for Japan after he powered home a rebound after Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong had saved Keisuke Honda's tame penalty in the 97th minute.

But Hwang Jae-won scored in the final minute of extra time to force the shootout after the Korean defender lashed home after a goalmouth scramble.

Earlier, Ki Sung-yueng put the twice champion Korea ahead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute before Ryoichi Maeda equalized for Japan after a fantastic move 13 minutes later.