Doha: Lu Fenghui's golden goal gave China a dramatic 2-1 upset over seven-time champion Pakistan on Tuesday and a place in the Asian Games men's field hockey final for the first time.
Lu slammed in a rebound from goalkeeper Nasir Ahmed, who had blocked the penalty corner drive, in the 10th minute of the golden goal extra-period to create a new benchmark in Chinese hockey.
In the title contest on Thursday, China will meet reigning champion South Korea, which is seeking its fourth Asian Games gold medal in two decades.
Two penalty corner conversions by Jang Jong-hyun, in the 55th and 63rd minutes, secured South Korea's 2-0 semi-final victory over Japan.
In the earlier match, Pakistan's players were left stunned as Lu was mobbed by his teammates after fashioning the biggest upset in Asian Games history.
It was China's first victory over Pakistan.
China's rise marks the first occasion in 48 years that neither Pakistan nor India will be feature in the men's hockey final since the sport was included in the Asian Games in 1958.
"I have no words to describe this moment, I've just pinched myself to believe that I'm not dreaming," Chinese skipper Song Yi, speaking with the help of a translator and struggling to control his emotions, said.
China's South Korean coach Kim Song-ryul said his defenders played an outstanding game to thwart Pakistan's raids.
"They played an excellent game today and proved that they can take on any opposition," Kim, who guided South Korea to the Olympic final at Sydney 2000, said.
"Pakistan's team is very experienced, but we were waiting for our chances. Modern hockey is different and every country is into it," Kim said.
He said the Chinese men's team was fast improving and would give a formidable display when it makes is Olympic debut in 2008.
Pakistan skipper Rehan Butt was angry at South Korean umpire Kim Hong-lae for awarding China the penalty corner that produced the golden goal.
"He gave the penalty corner when the ball was outside the circle, from where it rose after hitting the stick of a Pakistani defender," Butt said.
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Butt said Pakistan missed a lot of chances, but China's defence was excellent.
"It just wasn't our day. Our penalty corner shooter, Muhammad Imran was not able to convert even once, but this is a young team and can serve Pakistan well in future," he said.
Pakistan called the shots in the contest and was on the verge of victory before China equalized 10 seconds from the end on its first penalty corner.
Skipper Butt put Pakistan ahead in the 20th minute on a square-pass from Shakeel Abbasi inside the striking circle, but the former Olympic and World Cup champion failed to capitalise on nine penalty corners it forced during the 70-minute regulation period and one more in extra-time.
Playing an Asian Games semi-final for the first time, China stoutly defended the penalty corners as its goalkeeper Su Raifen repeatedly blocked stinging shots and rasping drag-flicks.
China forced extra time after a set-piece penalty corner conversion that saw Yu Yang deflect skipper Song's shot into the goal.
Pakistan has now failed to make the Asian Games final for the fourth consecutive time since winning the last of its seven gold medals in 1990.
Former gold medalist India outplayed Taiwan 12-1 to set up a playoff for the fifth position with Malaysia, which defeated Bangladesh 4-1.
Drag-flick specialist Raghunath Vokkaliga converted five penalty corners to lead the goal spree for India, which lost to China in the preliminary stage and missed out on the Asian Games semi-finals for the first time.
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