Japan to face Australia in the Asian Cup final after cruising past Korea Republic | OneFootball

Japan showed their class to dispatch Korea Republic and book an Asian Cup final date with hosts Australia.

Nils Nielsen were the better team throughout the game and their high pressure against well-supported South Korea resulted in the opening goal in the 15th minute with Fuka Nagano winning the ball in the Korean area before setting up Riko Ueki for an easy finish.

That lead was doubled 10 minutes later and it was a moment of magic from Maika Hamano who had the ball near the right corner flag before turning and driving into the area and then beating Kim Min-jeong at the near post.

It could have been more before the break with Aoba Fujino having two goals ruled out one for offside and another for a handball by Hikaru Kitagawa in the build-up.

Korea Republic struggled to fight back in the second half with Ueki almost getting her second of the evening when she headed onto the bar following a corner. It was a corner that gave Japan their third though, this time Saki Kumagai rising highest to make it 3-0.

There was signs of life after that though from the Koreans as they pulled one back shortly afterwards when Kang Chae-rim picked up the ball on the edge of the area and fired a powerful shot into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Ayaka Yamashita.

The three-goal advantage was restored soon after as South Korea pushed for another Japan hit them on the break with Manaka Matsukubo clipping a ball out to the left for Remina Chiba to run on to and rifle into the corner.

The Koreans will feel like they should have had a penalty in stoppage time when Hana Takahashi looked to have felled Ji So-yun but even after being summoned to the VAR monitor the referee elected against awarding a spot-kick that in truth would have made little difference.

In the end it was a well-deserved will for Japan who looked exceptional across the pitch and will likely be the favourites to defeat Australia in the final if home advantage doesn't tell. Korea Republic meanwhile will face China in the third-place play-off.