BEIRUT Favorites Japan came from behind to snatch a 3-2 win over China on Thursday and set up a showdown against Saudi Arabia in Sunday's Asian Cup final.
Two second-half goals by Talal al-Meshal had earned Saudi Arabia a 2-1 semifinal win over South Korea earlier in the day.
The Saudis have now reached the final of the continent's showpiece football competition five times in a row. They won the title in 1984, 1988 and 1996 and lost against Japan in 1992.
Japan are keen to regain the title to prove that they are on the right track on the road to the 2002 World Cup, which they cohost with South Korea.
Defender Tomokazu Myojin scored the winner in the 61st minute, eight minutes after striker Akinori Nishizawa equalized for Japan who went down 2-1 at the start of the second half.
The Japanese had started the game brightly, pinning back the Chinese into their own half and repeatedly threatened to take the lead. But the Chinese sent out danger signs with a couple of swift counterattacks.
Japan went ahead in the 21st minute when Chinese Captain Fan Zhiyi turned into his own net a cross from Japanese top striker Naohiro Takahara.
Qi Hong put China level nine minutes later when he was found unmarked inside the box with a brilliant header by Su Maozhen.
The goal appeared to shake the Japanese and China began to pile on the pressure.
China's Yang Chen came closest two minutes from halftime, shaving the crossbar with a half volley.
Yang Chen put China in the lead three minutes after the break with a shot from the edge of the area that was slightly deflected by Japanese defender Maoki Matsuda.
Nishizawa replied in the 53rd minute when he reacted quickest after a 30-yard freekick from Shusuke Nakamura rebounded off the bar of the Chinese goal.
With keeper Jiang Jin on the floor Nishizawa dived to head the ball home.
Myojin rifled a low drive from the right side of the Chinese box eight minutes later to put Japan into the final.
Saudi Victory After a cautious 75 minutes in the Saudi-South Korea game, Meshal broke the deadlock by rising above the South Korean defense for a powerful header after great work on the right by Ahmed Dukhi.
Meshal struck again in the 80th minute, running onto a through-ball from midfield and rounding goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae before firing into an empty net.
Meshal had already shown his form in the quarterfinals, scoring a vital equalizer against Kuwait to force extra-time the Saudis winning 3-2 with a golden goal.
Saudi Arabia should have scored more between Meshal's strikes on Thursday but a bad miss by Abdullah Wakad and a trademark 25-meter shot from Nawaf Temyat that hit the bar kept the Koreans in the match.
The Koreans threw everyone forward as the game drew to a close and Lee Dong-Gook notched his fifth goal of the tournament in the third minute of injury time to give the Saudis a few jittery seconds before the final whistle.
But Saudi Arabia's performance was a far cry from the 4-1 defeat against Japan in their opening match. Czech Coach Milan Macala was sacked after that game and Assistant Coach Nasser al-Jawhar took over.
Jawhar said after the match that he was satisfied with his team's performance. "We prepared very well for this game. We imposed our rhythm on the Koreans," he said.
Korean Coach Huh Jung-Moo blamed the defeat on poor finishing and a lack of concentration.
(Reuter)