Japan, Saudi Arabia set up summit clash

Japan had taken the lead through an own-goal by Chinese captain Fan Zhiyi, only for China to roar back with goals from Qi Hong his second in successive matches and Eintracht Frankfurt marksman Yang Chen.

Japan were equal to the challenge however, replying with goals from Akinori Nishizawa and Tomokazu Myojin.

China had been worth their 2-1 lead shortly after half-time when Yang leapt on a sloppy Myojin backpass to race 25 yards and bang in a deflected shot past keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.

But the tide turned in Japan’s favour shortly afterwards when Shunsuke Nakamura walloped a free-kick against the crossbar allowing the ever-alert Nishizawa to head in the equaliser.

Japan deservedly re-took the lead when Naohiro Takahara rolled a pass to Myojin on the angle of the penalty area, who steamed up to crash in number three.

The only sour note of the night for the Japanese was the booking of Junichi Inamoto, who will now miss Sunday’s showpiece.Earlier, Al-Meshal’s devastating two goals in five minutes settled Saudi’s scrap with the South Koreans.The New Saudi coach Nasser Jaoha said his team was improving steadily.

In a disappointing match which saw long passages of dour play, Al Meshal finally broke the deadlock 14 minutes from time.The Saudis did not have long to wait for the clincher. Substitute Mohammad Al-Shloob slid through a pass from midfield and with the Korean defence slow to react Al-Meshal pounced, rounding the keeper to make it 2-0.

South Korean striker Lee `Lion King’ Dong-Gook scored a late consolation goal.