Japan thrash South Korea to set up showdown with Australia in Asian Cup final

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ltLyWcnC/"]Japan[/a], who scored 24 goals in their ‌first four matches, penned their opponents back for ‌much of the game and created plenty ‌of scoring opportunities in the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/japan-ltLyWcnC/south-korea-6LgUhbye/?mid=AgetVWo4"]semi-final tie[/a] at Sydney's Stadium Australia.[/p][p]The Nadeshiko went ahead in the 15th ‌minute when midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nagano-fuka/dSSmKdT5/"]Fuka Nagano[/a] ⁠stole the ball ‌on the edge of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/6LgUhbye/"]South Korea[/a]'s penalty area and ​squared for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ueki-riko/80TDeGos/"]Riko Ueki[/a], who made no mistake from close range as she ​netted her fifth goal of the tournament.[/p][p][b]They doubled their lead 10 minutes later as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hamano-maika/WhWvduCL/"]Maika ⁠Hamano[/a] wriggled ​past two South Korean defenders, before unleashing a vicious shot from a tight angle which squeezed in at the near post.[/b][/p][p]Defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kumagai-saki/Svdu5TWJ/"]Saki Kumagai[/a] ‌met [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tanikawa-momoko/SIzo14hR/"]Momoko Tanikawa[/a]'s corner with a powerful header to make it 3-0 in the 75th minute, and while South Korea clawed a goal back through [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kang-chae-rim/EyqL9o2f/"]Kang Chae-rim[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chiba-remina/SvqDw2u2/"]Remina Chiba[/a] netted Japan's fourth in the 81st minute to snuff out any comeback hopes.[/p][embed guid="f614e6bd-05d1-48d3-9dd2-9dbd0b41d00a" url="https://x.com/FIFAWWC/status/2034223715722940604" social-type="twitter" /][p]Kang's goal was the first that Japan conceded in the tournament.[/p][p][b]"I was very ‌proud of them today. Sometimes it's not easy to just switch and play (a team) that has much more to give and make it look easy - and they actually did it,"[/b] Japan coach Nils Nielsen told Australia's Channel 10 TV.[/p][p][b]"They actually made this game look fairly easy and comfortable for us but it wasn't, because South Korea is a great opponent."[/b][/p][p]Japan take on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/YXMhvJho/"]Australia[/a] in the final at the same venue ‌on Saturday, after the hosts defeated nine-time ​champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/china/IFHViN7N/"]China[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/australia-YXMhvJho/china-IFHViN7N/?mid=Egbz9FMO"]2-1 on Tuesday[/a].[/p][p][b]"The Matildas really have an amazing team, they have adapted ‌to whatever is coming their way," [/b]the Danish coach added.[/p][p]Japan are looking to win a third Asian Cup title, after also lifting the trophy in back-to-back editions in 2014 and 2018, defeating Australia in both of those finals.[/p][p]Australia ⁠have won the tournament ⁠once since returning to the ‌Asian Football Confederation in 2006.[/p]