The Taeguk Warriors, who will face Japan in Saturday's final, took an early lead off a counter-attack which was initiated by Hwang Hee-chan, who broke free in the middle and found Hwang Ui-jo in the box.

As the Vietnam players swarmed to make a clearance, Lee Seung-woo pounced on the loose ball to finish past Vietnam goalkeeper Ngyuen Van Noang in the seventh minute.

Japan will meet Korea Republic in Saturday's final while the UAE will go up against Vietnam in the bronze medal match.

There was plenty of action in the final third for both sides in the opening minutes as UAE came close several times, forcing Japanese goalkeeper Ryosuke Kojima into making some impressive saves while Japan’s attempts lacked the decisive edge.

In the final 10 minutes of the first half, Japan had two great chances - when Keita Endo sent a low cross into the box which a surging Daizen Maeda stooped low for a header but Emirati custodian Mohamed Al Shamsi was on hand to catch it in the 37th minute.

He then did the for Yuto Iwasaki’s volley six minutes later to keep the game goalless going into the break at the Pakan Sari Stadium.

Korea Republic pushed the Asian champions to the edge, but an 86th-minute Lim Seon-joo own goal ultimately put paid to their hopes of a first ever appearance in the final.

Yuika Sugasawa gave Japan an early lead, but a wave of Korea Republic attacks produced an equaliser through the excellent Lee Min-a with just over 20 minutes remaining, before Lim's unfortunate touch took Japan a step closer to their first ever Asian Games women's football title.

In a match where Jia Xiuquan's side exerted near-total statistical dominance, it took a single 51st-minute goal from Wang Shanshan to secure their first appearance in the final since 2002.

Chinese Taipei are now eliminated from the hunt for their first ever Asian Games women's football gold medal, but they remain in contention for a place on the podium, with Friday's match against Korea Republic to determine their bronze medal fate.