Coach Shui Qingxia thanked her team for showing “the spirit of Chinese football” after they twice came from behind to eventually beat Japan on penalties in a dramatic AFC Women’s Asian Cup semi-final on Thursday night. And while there was no denying the fight in the Steel Roses, it was goalkeeper Yu Zhu who ensured they were even in a position to make it to spot kicks. Yu pulled off a series of fine saves at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune in both normal and extra time, and then saved two penalties in the shoot-out. Shui’s side were on the verge of defeat, losing 2-1 in the final minute of extra time, when Wang Shahshan fired China level. Yu then took over the heroics, saving two penalties as her side won the shoot-out 4-3, with Wang Shanshan scoring the goal that sent her side through to their first final since 2008. “It was a long road to victory,” Shui said. “As I said before the match, I hoped the team could show the spirit of Chinese women’s football and play confidently. I think they made it. “I want to thank the team and every team member for all their efforts, they fought hard for the win.” China qualify for 2023 World Cup after beating Vietnam in quarter-finals China will face South Korea in the final, where they will be aiming to win the competition for a record-extending ninth time, and for their first since 2006. Shui said it marked a new start for “women’s football in China” because of the failure to qualify for the finals for so many years. Japan, meanwhile, will be left wondering how they managed to lose a game they utterly dominated for long periods. Yu had to be at her best to keep her side in it in the first 20 minutes, denying Riko Ueki on several occasions, while Saki Kumagai and Mana Iwabuchi both missing from inside the six-yard box. 🇨🇳 The Steel Roses steal the show tonight, after an incredible and dramatic comeback at the #WAC2022 semi-finals against Japan! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/bV0CXkwLLJ — #WAC2022 (@afcasiancup) February 3, 2022 The deadlock was finally broken in the 26th minute when Hinata Miyazawa burst down the left flank and sent a perfect cross to Ueki, who scored with a glancing header. China made Japan pay for their profligate first-half, drawing level just a minute after the restart, with Xiao Yuyi muscling her way past a marker before sending a delightful ball to Wu Chengshu to finish. Iwabuchi and Ueki both missed opportunities to end the game in normal time, but the latter bagged her second of the game shortly before the extra-time break, breaking China’s offside trap to head home Hasegawa’s free-kick with a diving header. Yu then had to save Hasegawa’s shot from inside the box and Ueki’s header moments later to keep her side in the game. That continued wastefulness in front of goal cost Japan dearly, and Wang Shanshan equalised in the 119th minute to take the game to penalties. Head coach Futoshi Ikeda said Japan had been “unlucky to lose”. “However, we have to accept this defeat and move on,” Ikeda said. “I would like to congratulate China PR for the victory. After the penalty shoot-out, I told the players I’m disappointed with the result. But we must learn from this defeat and come back stronger in the next edition.”