Japan's Kenichiro Kogure in action against Kyrgyzstan. Photo by AFC/Noriko Hayakusa

OSAKA: Japan has survived a fierce challenge from Kyrgyzstan to secure their place in the showpiece match of the AFC Futsal Championship 2007, triumphing 1-0 at the Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium tonight.

Takuya Suzumura is the toast of the host nation – his innocuous twelfth minute toe poke all that separated the two sides at the final whistle.

In what was a near repeat of the 2005 Championships semi final in Vietnam, where Japan defeated Kyrgyzstan 4-3, the biggest and most vocal crowd of this tournament was treated to a magnificent, monumental and melodramatic match up fitting for such an occasion.

An invincible side for much of this tournament, Japan were mere mortals this evening against a Kyrgyzstan team certainly not overawed by the occasion and arguably the more dominant side in terms of possession and chances throughout the match.

Where Japan was most productive, however, was where it counted – the score board.

After weathering all that Kyrgyzstan could muster over forty minutes, the reigning champions could celebrate their sixth consecutive Championships final appearance.

“It was very physically trying, we did have more chances during the first half but we weren’t able to capitalise, but we won which is the important thing,” said Japan coach Sapo after the match.

“I told my players during half time to keep their concentration and be careful, because we were only one goal up.

“Thankfully, we won after what was a very frantic game and we want to win tomorrow because our goal is to be number one.”

The match winning goal did not arrive until the second quarter of the match – the longest the hosts have had to wait to score their opening goal these Championships.

What was ultimately a moment of such importance was not one of any visual appeal.

Suzumura’s strike, his sixth of the tournament, was taken from the touch line and barely had enough momentum to trickle across the goal line; such was the indistinctive nature of the match winner.

Kyrgyzstan’s response to Suzumura’s goal was, indeed, a righteous one.

In outstanding ball playing talent Andrei Pestryakov and tall timber Marat Duvanaev, the Kyrgyz were a constant threat going forward, while leading the charge from the back was diminutive playmaker Ulan Ryskulov.

Appropriately, Japan treated their opponents with suitable respect.

Leading personnel Kenichiro Kogure, Daisuke Ono and Suzumura each enjoyed a far greater slice of game time than what they had been afforded against some of the tournaments lesser lights in previous days, while coach Sapo’s raw emotion on the sidelines at the final whistle was somewhat out of character for the usually tranquil Brazilian tactician.

Certainly, had Japan captain Kenta Fujii not cleared off his goal line in the 22nd minute and goalkeeper Hisamitsu Kawahara not produced a stunning save with just three minutes remaining, it could have been a vastly different story for Sapo’s charges.

“It was basically just as we expected, as Japan is one of the most balanced, highly skilled and best teams in the world,” said Kyrgyzstan coach Nurtazin Djetybaev.

“When we conceded the goal, we thought we could recover, but that’s obviously not what happened.

“Japan’s offence was very aggressive and we just didn’t have the capabilities to win.

“Of course, I’m not satisfied with the outcome, but I’m very satisfied with the performance of my players.”

Japan’s victory sets up a dream finale against traditional rivals IR Iran at the Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium tomorrow.

After two consecutive semi-final exits, Kyrgyzstan have the chance to earn their first ever podium finish at the Championships when they take on central Asian rivals Uzbekistan in the curtain-raiser to final.