YASER Kasim's Iraqi teammates could not provide the Swindon Town star with a platform for Asian Cup glory as they lost their semi final 2-0 to South Korea, with the midfielder suspended.

Kasim had to watch the semi final from the sidelines after he picked up his second booking of the tournament in the quarter final, when the Lions of Mesopotamia dramatically beat rivals Iran in on penalties.

The Koreans broke Iraqi hearts as they took the lead when Lee Jeong-Hyeop steered home a glancing header from a free kick midway through the first half.

Then defender Kim Young-Gwon put the game beyond Iraq, the 2007 continental champions, with a deflected left-foot drive from outside the box early in the second half.

The Koreans, winners of the first two Asian Cup titles in 1956 and 1960, have now claimed a berth in their first final since 1988.

They have yet to concede a goal in five matches in this tournament, so will carry an impressive record into Saturday’s final against the winner of tomorrow’s second semi-final between Massimo Luongo's Australia and UAE.

Kasim will now be available for Friday's third/fourth place play-off against the loser's of tomorrow's second last four match-up.

Luongo and the Socceroos' bid to reach the final kicks off at 7am tomorrow morning in Newcastle, New South Wales.