Japan thrash South Korea to advance to Women's 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 semi-final tie at Sydney's Stadium [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/YXMhvJho/"]Australia[/a].[/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]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.[/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][p]Kang's goal was the first that Japan conceded in the tournament.[/p][embed guid="71cf26a3-4f8f-4402-ab9e-ff4a2c14ed5b" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro8wjthsF44&pp=ygURc291dGgga29yZWEgamFwYW4%3D" social-type="youtube" /][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 Channel Ten.[/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 Australia in the final at the same venue on ‌Saturday, after the hosts defeated nine-times champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/china/IFHViN7N/"]China[/a] 2-1 on ​Tuesday.[/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]