Battling Japan shoot Korea out

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 at the Al Gharafa Stadium.

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 champions ahead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute before Ryoichi Maeda equalised for Japan after a fantastic move 13 minutes later.

Korea were looking dangerous on the counter-attacks and set-pieces, and keeper Eiji Kawashina had to claw Ki's bending free-kick away as it headed for the far top corner. Ki got his name on the scoresheet soon afterwards from 12 yards. Hwang Jae-won's long ball out of defence was chased into the area by Korea captain Park ji-sung, making his 100th international appearance, and the midfielder was tackeld by Konno. Saudi Arabia referee Khalil Al Ghamdi pointed to the spot.

Back came Japan, with the impressive Honda instrumental in most moves and not surprisingly the CSKA Moscow man had a big hand in the equaliser. Honda slipped a perfect through ball down the left for full-back Yuto Nagatomo who pulled the ball back for Maeda to fire home.

Japan took the lead when Iwamasa was judged to have shoulder-barged his mark over inside the area, although television replays confirmed it had in fact been just outside. Nevertheless, Honda placed the ball on the spot, but his poor shot from 12 yards was saved, only for him to react quickest and fire in the rebound.

Japan looked home and dry but in the final minute of the 120 played, Ki's free-kick from deep was headed back across goal by Kim Shin-wook, and the ball pinged around the box before Hwang fired home to force a shootout.