S. Korea clinch third place on penalties

South Korea overcame fierce rivals Japan 6-5 in a penalty shoot-out to win a tempestuous Asian Cup third-place play-off which ended 0-0 after extra time yesterday. Keeper Lee Woon-jae blocked Japan's sixth spot-kick to give the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists a place in the 2011 Asian Cup finals.

South Korea were 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 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.