The West Asians, however, came to Bangkok determined to win the title and made known their intentions from the very start with a commanding opening win against Japan.

They are now just one match away from adding the AFC U23 Championship title to the AFC U-19 Championship crown won in 2018 and the-AFC.com retraces how Saudi Arabia got to the Thailand 2020 final.

Kim Hak-bum's side have hardly put a foot wrong in Thailand 2020, advancing to Sunday's decider against Saudi Arabia with a perfect record of five wins.

With the final fast approaching, the-AFC.com takes a look at how 2018 Asian Games champions Korea Republic got there.

Nasser Al Omran’s late and wickedly deflected strike ultimately proved the difference on a night when Saudi Arabia advanced past an Uzbekistan side guilty of squandering several chances to progress themselves.

With a title showdown still to come against Korea Republic on Sunday, Alshehri has been quick to point out that, despite the euphoria surrounding his team’s Tokyo 2020 qualification, there remains work to be done in Bangkok.

Having confirmed Korea Republic’s ninth consecutive appearance at the Olympics, celebrations were expected but the players, after applauding their fans, quickly made their way into the dressing room.

Kim Dae-won, who opened the scoring in the 2-0 win over the Olyroos, said as delighted as Korea Republic were to have booked their Olympic ticket, they were fully aware that their job wasn’t done yet.

Goals from Kim Dae-won and Lee Dong-gyeong in the second half ensured the Koreans not only set up a meeting in the final with Saudi Arabia on Sunday but that the country’s remarkable record of qualifying for the Olympic Games remaining intact.

The Koreans have appeared at every Olympics since Seoul hosted the Games in 1988 and victory over the Olyroos ensures Kim’s side will be playing in Tokyo this summer alongside the Saudis and the winners of Saturday’s third place play-off between Australia and Uzbekistan. Hosts Japan will be Asia's fourth team at the Olympics.

The Australians were outplayed for much of the 90 minutes at Thammasat Stadium, with goals from Kim Dae-won and Lee Dong-gyeong taking the Koreans into the final while Arnold’s side will face Uzbekistan in the third place play-off on Saturday.

In addition to the bronze medal, Asia’s third berth at the Tokyo Olympic Games will be on the line and Arnold will attempt to lift his players as he looks to qualify the country for the global extravaganza for the first time since 2008.

A late Nasser Al Omran effort ultimately proved Uzbekistan’s undoing as the 2018 champions had their dreams of retaining the Continental crown shattered by their in-form opponents.

While the win guaranteed Saudi Arabia a place at Tokyo 2020, Uzbekistan will also be assured of their ticket to the global extravaganza should they beat the Olyroos, who lost to Korea Republic in the competition’s other last four showdown, on Saturday.