By NNN-ANTARA
Palembang : South Korea overcame fierce rivals Japan 6-5 in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 stalemate after extra time to win a tempestuous third-place play-off at the Asian Cup on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae blocked Japan's sixth spot kick from Naotake Hanyu to give the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists a spot in the 2011 Asian Cup finals after extra time had failed to break a 0-0 stalemate between the two countries which co-hosted
the 2002 World Cup, Reuters reported.
South Korea had been reduced to 10 men when Kang Min-soo was dismissed for a second yellow card after 57 minutes.
South Korea's Dutch coach Pim Verbeek and two of his assistants were quickly ordered to follow Kang down the tunnel for protesting furiously at the referee's decision.
Japan's bid for a third successive title ended in a 3-2 defeat by Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals while South Korea were knocked out by Iraq on penalties.
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