Japan found an extra gear just when things looked to be slipping away Thursday, battling to a 3-2 win over China to reach the final of the Asian Cup and set up a rematch with rival Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis, hammered 4-1 by Japan in the Group C opener on Oct. 14, booked their place in Sunday's final after scraping past South Korea 2-1 in the day's first semifinal at Beirut Sports City Stadium.
Japan got an alarm call in the 48th minute when a sloppy pass from midfielder Tomokazu Myojin presented Chinese striker Yang Chen with a path to goal and, with Naoki Matsuda slow to challenge, Yang drove the ball into the top corner to put China in front 2-1.
However, Japan re-established superiority five minutes later as striker Akinori Nishizawa equalized with a diving header, before Myojin atoned for his earlier mistake with the winner in the 61st minute.