2004 AFC Asian Cup final

As hosts, China were automatically assigned in Group A, facing Indonesia, Bahrain and Qatar in process. All three China's group stage games were held in Beijing. China went to suffer a shock 2–2 draw over minnows Bahrain in the opening fixture, with Husain Ali burying China's hope for a maiden win with a last-minute goal.[2] China then routed Indonesia 5–0, with Shao Jiayi scoring twice in China's emphatic win, added with Indonesia only playing with ten men due to a red card by Alexander Pulalo after Shao's opening goal.[3] However, China struggled against a highly defensive Qatar in the final game, only winning 1–0 courtesy of a 77th-minute goal from Xu Yunlong to top the group and reaching the quarter-finals.[4]

China's first opponent in the knockout stage was Iraq, who finished second in Group B. Hao Haidong scored an early lead before Zheng Zhi netted two penalties to give China a triumphant 3–0 win over the Iraqis.[5] In the semi-finals, China faced Iran, a far stronger side. The Chinese scored first in the 18th minute thanks to Shao Jiayi, only to be equalised 20 minutes later by Mohammad Alavi. Iran was later reduced to ten men when Sattar Zare was sent off for shoving Shao Jiayi, before another red card was given in the second half on Alavi, who was already substituted early in the second half. Yet China failed to capitalise the opportunity and had to settle on a penalty shootout, which they won 4–3, with Yahya Golmohammadi missing Iran's crucial kick.[6]

As the defending champions, Japan were drawn in Group D with debutants Oman, alongside fellow powerhouse Iran and Thailand. All of Japan's group stage matches were played in Chongqing, which became a hotspot for anti-Japanese hostilities. Japan began their campaign with a hard-fought 1–0 win over Oman, with Shunsuke Nakamura scoring the match's only goal.[7] Japan then overcame a shock goal to defeat Thailand 4–1, effectively knocking the War Elephants out of the tournament.[8] Japan then confirmed their top place in the group with a goalless draw over Iran.[9]

In the quarter-finals, Japan faced Jordan, another dark horse of the tournament. To make things difficult, Mahmoud Shelbaieh opened the score for Jordan in the 11th minute, before Takayuki Suzuki equalised just three minutes later. Japan failed to make subsequent chances in the second half and extra time and had to settle for penalties, after Shunsuke Nakamura and Alex missed two of Japan's three first penalties while the Jordanians succeeded in converting both, yet they went on to miss four straight kicks due to controversial decisions, allowing Japan time to restore parity before winning 4–3.[10] Japan's semi-final match in Jinan was a showdown against Bahrain, another Arab opponent. Despite Yasuhito Endo's red card in the 40th minute, the Samurai Blue came out victorious, winning 4–3 after extra time.[11]