Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Japan came from behind to defeat Uzbekistan 2-1 in their AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Kuwait 2022 semi-final on Thursday.

After Uzbekistan took a first half lead through Ilkhomjon Khamroev, Japan fought hard in the second period with Arthur Oliveira and Sora Kanazawa finding the back of the net to seal a 10th final appearance. 

Japan will now bid for a fourth title when they play defending champions Islamic Republic of Iran - who defeated Thailand 5-0 in their last four tie - in Saturday’s final.

Japan started aggressively and nearly took the lead within the opening 20 seconds when Neto Antonio Hirata’s grounded effort missed by mere inches. 

Uzbekistan suffered another scare in the fifth minute when Japan Arthur Oliveira let loose a crackling free-kick from the edge of the box, which initially slipped past Ravshan Elibaev, only for the keeper to recover and gather the ball before it crossed the line. 

Uzbekistan did well to contain the three-time champions, but struggled to muster any opportunities in the opening minutes they settled to test goalkeeper Higor Pires with shots from distance. 

Rustam Umarov went on to replace an injured Elibaev in the 10th minute and it seemed to galvanise Uzbekistan as they had a chance in the 13th minute when Davron Chorev dispossessed Kanazawa, but Khamroev just failed to convert the subsequent pass. 

Both teams were dangerous in set-piece situations, with Uzbekistan’s Anaskhon Rakhmatov’s volley deflecting off the crossbar in the 16th minute, with the same happening to Japan’s Vinicius Crepaldi seconds later. 

Uzbekistan finally broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when a counter-attack saw Khusniddin Nishonov surging down the right flank, before supplying a brilliant pass to Khamroev, who made no mistake in beating Pires from close range. 

Japan pressed hard for the equaliser with Kanazawa’s 18th minute strike bouncing off the upright, before Umarov parried Atsuya Uemura’s effort to maintain Uzbekistan’s lead heading into the break. 

Japan carried on from where they had left off in the first half and their persistence bore fruit just three minutes into the second half with Oliveira smashing home the equaliser from a kick-in set-piece. 

Boosted by the goal, Japan continued pressing as Uzbekistan were forced to adopt a defence approach, which resulted in the Central Asian side resorting to long-range throws and lobs into the final third, which Pires had no trouble dealing with. 

But Uzbekistan eventually succumbed to the pressure at the half-hour mark from a corner set-piece, with an unmarked Kanazawa directing Kentaro Ishida’s pass into the back of the net to see Japan ahead for the first time in the match. 

Japan also had a goalkeeping change when Pires was withdrawn due to injury with Guilherme Kuromoto coming on in the 31st minute, and the substitute custodian stood tall even when Uzbekistan initiated power play three minutes later. 

Khamroev, acting as Uzbekistan’s fifth attacking player, came on the 37th minute and almost immediately  connected with Nishonov’s pass into the area, but Kuromoto stood strong to deny him with a body block, with the custodian - named the match’s Most Valuable Player after - then thwarting several attacks in quick succession to ensure Japan’s place in the final.