It was my time to work hard: Kawashima

Doha: Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima said he knew it was his time to shine as he saved two penalties in a shootout against Korea Republic on Tuesday to send his side through to the AFC Asian Cup final. Hwang Jae-won had sent the game at the Al Gharafa Stadium to penalties when he levelled the score for the Koreans at 2-2 with just seconds left in extra-time. But Kawashima emerged as Japan’s hero, stopping spot kicks by Koo Jae-cheol and Lee Yong-rae while Hong Jeong-ho shot wide as the Blue Samurai won the shootout 3-0 to advance to meet Australia in Saturday’s final at the Khalifa Stadium. The Lierse goalkeeper was feted by his teammates for his heroics in the shootout but he felt that he was simply doing his job on the pitch. “Over 120 minutes, every player worked really hard so I was thinking that when it came to penalties, it was going to be my time to work,” the 27-year-old said. With his team having allowed the Koreans to get back on level terms so late on, Kawashima was determined to lift his side in the shootout. “I saw that everybody’s head was down and the atmosphere was a bit strange because we had conceded the goal so close to the end of the game. But I knew it was not finished so I just focussed on the penalties. “Everybody on my team was coming and saying things but I just kept my mind on what I had to do. We are a team and we all work for each other and it was my time to work.” Forward Kesiuke Honda had failed to dispatch a penalty in extra-time although he was bailed out by teammate Hajime Hosogai, who followed up to put the Japanese 2-1 up. But Honda kept his nerve in the shootout and put his side ahead with an unstoppable effort into the top right corner before Shinji Okazaki and Yasuyuki Konno also converted to send Japan through. “I feel good and I’m very happy,” said the CSKA Moscow player, who was named the Man of the Match. “I don’t think we could have given any more than we gave today. It was a very difficult game so we can take great satisfaction with this victory.”

Japan 2-2 Korea Republic AET - Pen 3-0

Japan players celebrate scoring a goal against Korea Republic. Doha: Japan sealed their place in the final of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Korea Republic following a 2-2 draw after extra time at Al Gharafa Stadium on Tuesday. A Ki Sung-yong penalty had put the Koreans ahead in the 23rd minute but Ryoichi Maeda equalised nine minutes before the break. Neither side could add a second in the second half meaning extra time was needed where Japan took the lead for the first time in the 97th minute through Hajime Hosogai. Hwang Jae-won scored a dramatic leveller seconds before the whistle to force penalties but Korea Republic failed to convert any of theirs while only Yuto Nagatomo missed for Japan to keep Alberto Zaccheroni’s side on course for a fourth Asian title. Shinji Okazaki was looking lively for Japan from the outset and he was the first to threaten after nine minutes when he headed just wide, and the Shimizu S-Pulse striker went even closer in the 18th minute as his powerful downward header was pushed onto the post by Korea Republic keeper Jung Sung-ryong. It proved a crucial save as the Koreans took the lead five minutes later when Yasuyuki Konno pushed Park Ji-sung in the area and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Ki stepped up to confidently convert the penalty beyond the reach of the diving Eiji Kawashima. That goal opened the game up considerably and Keisuke Honda directed a powerful header from Atsuto Uchida’s cross straight into the hands of Jun while Koo Ja-cheol headed over from a Korea Republic free-kick soon after. But Japan were back on level terms nine minutes before the break when Honda’s smart ball sent Yuto Nagamoto through on the left of the area before the defender cut a pass back to Maeda, who fired home from the middle of the box for his third of the tournament. Koo had Korea Republic’s first chance of the second half when he was picked out by Ji Dong-won inside the area and the Jeju United midfielder wrestled his way between two defenders, but could only stab his shot into the sidenetting. But the second period failed to match the pace of the first with Lee Yong-rae’s 71st minute free-kick curling inches wide of the upright and Okazaki’s shot at Jung the only efforts of note before the end of normal time. Japan took the lead seven minutes into extra time when Hwang needlessly pushed Okazaki inside the area and the referee awarded the penalty, and though Honda’s weak spot kick was denied by Jung the alert Hosogai rushed in to smash the loose ball into the roof of the net. It seemed as though that strike would be enough to send the Japanese through but the Koreans equalised in dramatic fashion when a Ki free-kick with seconds remaining was headed back into the danger zone by Kim and Hwang swept home in the ensuing goalmouth scramble. Consequently penalties were needed to separate the two and Kawashima twice pulled off saves while Hong Jeong-ho sent his side before Konno converted to send Japan through to the final.