Goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung emerged as the hero for Vietnam, his two penalty saves sensationally helping seal the victory after Nguyen Quang Hai had scored twice to ensure an extraordinary 2-2 draw at the end of extra-time.
The victory, which has set up Saturday’s title showdown with fellow last four winners Uzbekistan, comes after Vietnam finished second in Group D before beating Iraq – also on penalties – in the quarter-finals.
“Before this tournament I said that we (as a team) have something special,” declared Park after the game.
“This result against Qatar is a result of my players' sweat and effort.
“I told all my 23 players to put up a tremendous fight and that they should not disappoint the people of Vietnam. They did not let them down.”
The match was Vietnam’s, and indeed Qatar’s, fifth of the tournament in a relatively short period of time, but Park was determined that fatigue was never going to play a part in determining the winner.
“Ahead of the fixture, so many people thought that my players would be tired and that maybe that could have an impact on the result,” the 62-year-old explained.
“However, I stressed to my players that they were not to use that as an excuse. This was a very tough game and my players knew its importance and we prepared very well for it.”
Meanwhile, Qatar coach Felix Sanchez is adamant that the West Asian nation’s players will continue to develop, despite the disappointment of falling at the semi-final hurdle, just at they did at the competition’s 2016 edition.
“It was a very tough game against a very good team,” said the Spaniard.
“We hope that the players will look back and realise that they had a good tournament.
“In football, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Today, it was our turn to lose, but I am pretty sure they are going to continue (to grow).
“As players they never give up and I am sure they are going to do very well in the future. I believe they will do just that.”
Photos: AFC