BEIJING, Aug 7: Defending champions Japan shattered China's dream of a first ever Asian Cup final victory on Saturday, winning thanks to controversial goals in a hostile atmosphere to down the host nation 3-1.

In a pressure-cooker Workers' Stadium jammed with 66,000 fans, Japan rode a wave of intimidation dished out by Chinese fans bristling at Japan's wartime past to keep their hands on the silverware.

Japan sealed the game on a highly controversial 65th minute goal with replays showing Koji Nakata clearly scooped the ball into the net with his hand after latching onto a Shunsuje Nakamura corner.

China loudly appealed the decision but Kuwaiti referee Saad Kameel stood firm.

Japan had taken the lead courtesy of another dubious decision in the 22nd minute when Kameel gave a freekick on the edge of the Chinese area for a foul.

Shunsuje Nakamura crossed deep to Takayuki Suzuki who nodded it back onto the head of Takashi Fukunishi who made no mistake from close range.

With the crowd roaring them on China launched into the attack and drew level nine minutes later when Li Ming capitalised on some nifty footwork by Yan Song down the left.

Yan rounded two defenders before laying the ball off to Li who slotted it home from the edge of the area.

Keiji Tamada, though, rubbed salt into Chinese wounds one minute into second half injury time when he dribbled past keeper Liu Yunfei to make certain of victory.

The match was about more than football for many Chinese fans who have heckled Japan throughout the tournament over its wartime past.

It assumed political connotations when senior leaders from both sides stepped into the fray and security at the game was ultra tight with at least 6,000 police on duty, some in riot gear and with dogs.

While there was no violence during the game, Japan's national anthem was drowned out by boos while the Japanese players were jeered whenever they touched the ball.

China started the game in attack mode, in their first Asian Cup final in 20 years.

They threw men forward from the whistle and could have opened the scoring in the eighth minute but Li Jinyu's header from a looping Li Ming cross sailed over Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi's bar.

They dominated for the first 20 minutes as Japan sat back and soaked up the pressure, awaiting their chance, which they took in the 22nd minute.

Despite the intimidating atmosphere, it was a spirited performance from Zico's men who came to the tournament decimated by injuries and club commitments.

The likes of Hidetoshi Nakata, Shinji Ono, Naohiro Takahara and Junichi Inamoto played no part, leaving a makeshift Japanese team to show again that they remain the heavyweights of Asian football.

China 1 Japan 3-AFP