AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 - Semi-finals: All you need to know

Three of the four teams will earn tickets to Tokyo 2020 with Uzbekistan the most impressive side in the quarter-finals, with the defending champions coming from behind to storm past a strong United Arab Emirates 5-1 in their last eight tie.

Lee Dong-gyeong's sublime free-kick in the fifth minute of added time gave Korea Republic a last-gasp win over a brave Jordan, while Saudi Arabia advanced thanks to Abdullah Al Hamdan's 78th-minute penalty against Thailand.

Australia needed extra time to see off Syria, with substitute Al Hassan Toure scoring in the 101st minute to take the Olyroos through. the-AFC.com takes a look at what awaits in Wednesday's semi-finals.

Semi-finals

Saudi Arabia vs Uzbekistan
Venue: Rajamangala Stadium
Kick-off: 17:15 (UTC +7)

Australia vs Korea Republic
Venue: Thammasat Stadium
Kick-off: 20:15 (UTC +7)

Historic bid

Uzbekistan will be aiming to become the first two-time winners of the AFC U23 Championship, having defeated Vietnam 2-1 to lift the 2018 title. Previous champions were Japan (2016) and Iraq (2013/14), who both did not progress past the group stage in Thailand 2020.

Title hunt

Korea Republic are the only team to have made the semi-finals of all four editions of the AFC U23 Championship, finishing runners-up in 2016 and fourth in the other two editions. Kim Hak-bum's side will be determined to finally lift the trophy.

Uncharted territory

Australia are in their first AFC U23 Championship semi-finals, having lost in the quarter-finals of the inaugural edition and exited in the group stage in 2016 and 2018.

Double dream

Saudi Arabia are in the semi-finals for the first time in three editions, having suffered group stage exits in 2016 and 2018. They were, however, finalists in 2013/14 and will be looking to add the Thailand 2020 title to the AFC U-19 Championship crown won last year.

Perfect Record

Korea Republic are the only team among the semi-finalists with a perfect record of four wins. Australia advanced from Group A with one win and two draws before defeating Bahrain in the quarter-finals.

Saudi Arabia's 1-0 win over Thailand in the quarter-finals followed two victories and a draw in Group B, while Uzbekistan are the only semi-finalists to have suffered a defeat in the tournament - losing 2-1 to Korea Republic in Group C.

Leading Scorers

Uzbekistan's Islomjon Kobilov will head into the semi-final leading the race for the Top Scorer Award with three goals to his name.

Australia's Nicholas D'Agostino and Korea Republic duo Cho Gue-sung and Lee Dong-jun are on two each while Saudi Arabia's four goals thus far have been scored by four different players.