First-half goals take South Korea to Asian Cup final

South Korea booked their place in the final of the Women's Asian Cup with a 2-0 win over the Philippines in Pune on Thursday to stay on course for a first-ever continental title. First-half goals from Cho So-hyun and Son Hwa-yeon took the Koreans into the final for the first time in the competition's 47-year history and ended the fairytale run of Alen Stajcic's side. The Colin Bell-coached Koreans will face two-time defending champions Japan or China in Sunday's decider. The pair meet in the second semi-final later on Thursday.

South Korea were facing a Philippines side that was featuring in the last four for the first time and who had booked their debut appearance at next year's World Cup finals with victory over Taiwan in the previous round. South Korea, however, were a different proposition for the Philippines and Cho put her side ahead in the fourth minute when she headed home Kim Hye-ri's corner. Choo Hyo-joo's run down the left opened up the Philippines defence 30 minutes later and her low centre was steered in from close range by Son to put the Koreans further ahead. The Asian Cup has doubled up as the continent's qualifier for next year's World Cup, with the four semi-finalists advancing to the tournament alongside co-hosts Australia and New Zealand. A fifth Asian nation will qualify via a repechage that features Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan, with the second and third-placed finishers progressing into a series of international playoffs for further World Cup berths.