Japan 2 South Korea 2 (Japan win on penalties) (January 25)
A goal in the last minute of extra time gave South Korea a worthless lifeline as they were unable to take advantage of the penalty shootout. Jung Sung Ryong did well to get down and push Okazaki's header against the post in the 17th minute, but 5 minutes later the Koreans were awarded a penalty which Ki Sung Yong tucked the ball away emphatically. Japan levelled the score in the 36th minute when Nagatomo ran onto a pass from Honda and laid the ball back for Maeda to force home from 6 yards. With no further goals extra time was played and in the 96th minute Honda saw his poorly-taken penalty blocked but Hosogai knocked the follow-up into the roof of the net for what seemed to be the winning goal until the last minute of the match when a free-kick was crossed into a crowded box finally falling to Hwang Jae Won who lashed the ball in for a Korean equaliser. With Ja Cheol, Jong Rae and Jeong Ho failing to convert for Korea, and Honda and Okazaki scoring for Japan it was left for Konno to send the keeper the wrong was and Japan into the final.