KUALA LUMPUR, July 22: Heavyweights South Korea and Saudi Arabia earned their places in the Asian Cup semi-finals on Sunday, joining Japan and Iraq as the teams still standing in the regional showpiece.

South Korea won a gruelling and fluctuating epic 4-2 on penalties against Iran in Kuala Lumpur, while the Saudis sneaked past the Uzbeks 2-1 in Jakarta, with the woodwork and a linesman's flag to thank.

It means South Korea remain in Malaysia for their semi-final on Wednesday against Iraq while defending champions Japan entertain Saudi Arabia in Hanoi.

Korea and triple champions Iran played themselves to a standstill over the regulation 90 minutes and 30 minutes' extra time without scoring a goal in energy-sapping conditions.

The Koreans held their nerve with their veteran goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae proving the hero when he saved efforts from Mehdi Mahdavikia and Rasoul Khatibi to acclaim from the chanting Korean supporters in the penalty shootout.

It was the second quarter-final to go to penalties after Japan knocked out Australia 4-3 in Hanoi on Saturday.

“Clearly I am very, very proud of the boys. It was very hard against strong opposition,” said Korea's Dutch coach Pim Verbeek, who singled out their spirit for praise.

“Mentally we were very strong. I've never seen a Korea team not play with spirit, that's why it is a pleasure for me to work with them.”

While ecstatic, Verbeek knows plenty of hard work remains with just two days to recover from the energy-sapping match before facing Iraq here on Wednesday.

“We have nothing with a semi-final, we must go for the final,” he said.

It was tough uncompromising football with solid challenges and a large number of fouls but neither side could break the deadlock.

The result was huge relief for South Korea, who had been beaten twice in their three previous quarter-finals with Iran at the Asian Cup.

South Korea twice won the Asian Cup in the origins of the tournament in 1960 and 1964 and despite finals appearances in 1972, 1980 and 1988 have yet to add another trophy.

They are now just one game away from the July 29 final in Jakarta.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei felt his side was unlucky, and is bracing for a backlash in Tehran, adding that he would review his position once the dust has settled.

“We did well tactically and physically,” he said. “I insist on taking full responsibility for the result. The Iranian players need to be supported for the future.”

The unlucky Uzbeks had every right to feel hard done by, clattering the frame of the goal five times while having a goal wrongly ruled out for offside in a thrilling contest.

It was a flying start as Saudi Arabia took the lead after only three minutes when Abdulrahman Al Qahtani outpaced Anvar Gafurov down the Saudi left and sent a teasing cross into the box.

Uzbek goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov got a hand to it but could only divert the ball to Yasser Al Qahtani, who finished with aplomb.

But it was largely the former Soviet Republic who dominated the action, rattling the bar or the upright five times only to see it go to waste when Saudi substitute Ahmed Al Mousa fired in off the post with 15 minutes left.

Uzbekistan finally got the goal they deserved eight minutes from the end as another substitute Pavel Solomin prodded home after his team hit the woodwork once again.—AFP