wo-time champion South Korea defeated Iraq 2-0 to qualify for its first Asian Cup final in nearly 30 years at Sydney's Olympic Stadium on Monday.

Lee Jeong-hyeop's header in the first half and Kim Young-gwon's long-range strike just after halftime lifted South Korea to its first continental final since 1988 and within a victory of its first Asian Cup title since 1960.

The 2007 champions Iraq, led by talismanic striker Younis Mahmoud, struggled for opportunities against South Korea's solid defense that has not conceded a goal in all five games played at the tournament — a span of 480 minutes, including the extra time period against Uzbekistan in the quarterfinal.

South Korea will next play the winner of Tuesday's second semifinal between host team Australia and UAE in the final at Sydney on Saturday.

In wet, cool conditions on Australia's national holiday, the match started at a frantic pace as both teams launched quick counterattacks and South Korea captain Ki Sungyueng's curling cross was also met by an unmarked Han Kyowon in only the third minute.

Son Heung-min, who scored a brace in South Korea's 2-0 extra-time win over Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals, made the most of a stretched Iraqi defense to streak through midfield and launch a shot at goal that Jalal Hassan had to tip over the bar for the game's first shot on target in the 19th minute.

South Korea made the breakthrough in the next minute as man of the match Kim Jinsu's curling freekick to the back post was met by a well-timed run from Lee, who held off defender Waleed Salim, to head the ball past a static Hassan to open the scoring with his second goal of the tournament.

Mahmoud, who has legendary status in his homeland after scoring the winning goal in the 2007 final against Saudi Arabia at Jakarta, cut a frustrated figure for most of the first half, unable to get useful possession from his midfield and generally being well marshalled by South Korea's defense.

South Korea took a big step towards the final shortly after halftime by doubling its advantage, capitalizing on Iraq's inability to clear its lines when a high ball was chested down by Lee for Kim Young-gwon.

Kim's volley from just outside the box deflected off defender Salam Shakir's heel and past the despairing dive of Hassan to all but extinguish Iraq's hopes of a repeat of its stunning 2007 success.

After the blow of conceding the second goal, Iraq began to throw caution to the wind and found more small openings in the South Koreans' resolute defense, but were unable to find a final pass to create a clear scoring chance.

"The South Korea team had quality players from high quality leagues," said Iraq coach Radhi Swadi. "I think today we had two mistakes, which they used and scored through. Hopefully we can do something in the upcoming match."

A pitch invasion by a fan wearing a t-shirt with an Iraqi flag provided the only sour moment from a vibrant crowd of 36,053. Security officials quickly intervened and several of the Iraqi players also restrained the fan who was led away to awaiting police.

South Korea, though, were not distracted and comfortably saw out the final few minutes to record its first Asian Cup victory against Iraq, after the previous two meetings had finished in goalless stalemates.

Earlier, South Korea coach Uli Stielike made two changes from the team that beat Uzkbeskistan 2-0 after extra time in the quarterfinals, with 34-year-old wing back Cha Duri and Han Kyowon replacing Kim Changsoo and Lee Keunho.

Iraq also made two changes with Amjed Kalaf replacing suspended midfielder Yaser Kasim and Osamah Jabber in for Justin Meram.

Alaa Abdulzehra started the match, despite the distraction of Iran's official protest after its quarterfinal loss to Iraq about the midfielder's eligibility due to an alleged doping infraction while he played for Tractor Sazi in the Iranian domestic league.

The Asian Football Confederation dismissed the protest as unfounded on the eve of Iraq's semifinal against South Korea.

"It was a dead objection from the start," said Swadi. "We didn't really worry about that."

Host team Australia faces UAE in the second semifinal at Newcastle on Tuesday, looking to reach its second successive Asian Cup final.