Saudi Arabia grabbed a 3-2 victory over Japan to deny them the chance to win a third successive Asian Cup title and set up an all-Arab final against Iraq. Skipper Yasser Al-Qahtani put Saudi Arabia ahead in the 35th minute through a powerful shot from outside the area. Yuji Nakazawa leveled the score just two minutes later when he capitalized on a misjudgment by the Saudi keeper to head home a cross from the left. Ahli Jeddah in-form striker Malek Moez restored the lead for Saudi Arabia three minutes after re-start with a superb glancing header past Japan keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi. Yuki Abe scored the equalizer again in the 54th minute with a brilliant acrobatic volley but Moeaz sealed the victory for Saudi Arabia through a sublime effort. He sidestepped a defender inside the area, bamboozled the second and a hit a powerful shot into the back of the net. Three-time Asian champions Saudi Arabia will meet Iraq in the Asian Cup final on Sunday.
