China's Shao Jiayi celebrates after scoring his team first goal against Iran during their semifinal match at the Asian Cup in Beijing August 3, 2004. China beat Iran 5-4 in a penalty shootout. [Reuters]

China's Li Jinyu fights for a loose ball against a Iranian player in the Asian Cup semi-final Tuesday in Beijing. [newsphoto]

China's Zheng Zhi eludes a Iranian player's tackle in the Asian Cup semi-final Tuesday in Beijing. [newsphoto]

Two security workers stop an overjoyed Chinese fan after he tried to rush into the field to greet the Chinese team after China beat Iran 5-4 to make its first Asian Cup final in 20 years. [newsphoto]

An ecstatic Chinese football team celebrates as goalkeeper Liu Yunfei saves Iran's last spot kick in the penalty shoot-out -- and sends China to the Asia Cup final. [newsphoto]

Hosts China set up an Asian Cup final showdown with bitter rivals Japan after a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout against Iran Tuesday night.

Goalkeeper Liu Yunfei saved the decisive spot kick from Iran defender Yahya Golmohammadi for China to win the shootout 4-3 after extra time had failed to break a 1-1 deadlock.

Liu's save sent China into the Asian Cup final for only the second time, sparking delirious scenes among the crowd of 62,000 in Beijing.

China, who have never won the Asian Cup, beat Iran for the first time since 1994, stretching their unbeaten run to 19 games.

Chinese fans were jubilant about last night's dramatic victory.

"I am over the moon the Chinese could beat Iran!" said Yang Sheng, a Beijing fan who watched the game with a group of friends.

The result has filled him with confidence for Saturday's final against Japan.

"I am sure we can win the game to be Cup champions," he said.

Ji Zhi, a football fan in Shunde, South China's Guangdong Province, said all Chinese should be proud of the result.

"You know, for 10 years China hasn't been able to beat Iran," he said.

Ji said the Chinese team had piled on the pressure after Irani player Sattar Zare was sent off in the first half.

"They paid the price for a lack of calm in the way they played," he said.

"People are now drinking to celebrate," said Wang Fei, manager of the Swing Bar in Beijing's Sanlitun bar street.

Pub culture has become more and more popular among Chinese in recent years, and football fans can often be seeing propping up bars as they watch important games.

Wang has capitalized on the trend, making sure he shows the matches and keeps fans drinking.

"There are more than 80 people here, and that's the bar's full capacity," he said.

Some Chinese fans were still critical of their side's performance.

"The Chinese team still need to improve. They still couldn't beat the Iranis in 90 minutes, even though one Irani player was sent off early in the first half," said fan Hei Liang, in Beijing.

Hei is pessimistic about the Japan/China final.

"I would say the Japanese are better than the Chinese in terms of skill and organization," he said.

(Frankspeak)