Action from the Japan-Korea Republic semi-final in the AFC U-19 Women's Championship in Chongqing.

CHONGQING: Japan overcame Korea Republic 6-5 on penalties to storm into the final of the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship and also book a place in the next year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup here on Saturday.

Both the teams were locked goalless after 120 minutes of play at the Chongqing Olympic Sports Centre Stadium but Japan’s substitute goalkeeper Shiori Kobayashi made two beautiful penalty saves, one in extra-time and one in the shoot-out, to give Norio Sasaki’s side a place in Tuesday’s summit clash.

Despite wet pitch due to heavy rains and cold weather, the two teams made repeated forays to break the deadlock but in vain. The Koreans were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute of extra-time when Jung Hae In was brought down by Japanese defender Midori Isokane in the penalty area but Kobayashi, who replaced her injured captain Misa Sugawara in the second half, guessed Kwon Hah Nul’s shot correctly.

In the shoot-out, she once again saved Kwon’s shot while Kim Na Rae shot Korea’s seventh penalty wide as Isokane converted the next spot-kick to ensure Japan's victory. Earlier, Korean custodian Kim Seul A blocked Japan’s fifth penalty taken by Saki Kumagai to level the scores.

Naoko Sakuramoto, Asuna Tanaka, Michi Goto, Rumi Utsugi and Natsuko Hara also converted their penalties for Japan.

In the final on Tuesday, Japan will take on DPR Korea, who defeated hosts China 4-1 in the second semi-final. A devastated Korea Republic coach Lee Young Ki said after game: “It was raining so heavily that this might be the toughest game in the history of women’s football”. “I am satisfied with my players’ performance today. The speed of the match was too fast that led to our failure.” Japan coach Sasaki said, “We lost our last match against DPR Korea and we learnt a lot from it. I think today we performed well.”