The perennial bridesmaids from east Asia, who have not won the Asian Cup since the second ever edition in 1960, are now into their first final since 1988, when they lost on penalties to Saudi Arabia after the game finished scoreless after 90 minutes.

Getting to the final doesn't mean the job is done. But, according to their German coach Uli Stielike, they have matched the least of Korean public expectation in making the title deciding game, so anything now is a bonus.

"When we came to Australia we were third on the AFC ranking. We said we wanted to come back with a better result. That is done today," Stielike said after his side defeated Iraq 2-0 in an Australia Day semi-final played out in a downpour at Sydney's ANZ Stadium. The victory means that the South Koreans will now, depending on the result in Saturday's final, be regarded as at least number two in Asia – and number one if captain Ki Sung-yeung lifts the trophy.

"Anything that now comes will be an extra. We will try to get this cup. The team has already done what they had to do; they have gone one big step forward."

South Korea has ticked all the boxes on their march to the final and have the profile of most championship winning teams – slow starters who build to a crescendo.

They certainly did not look as attractive as the Socceroos in their first two group games against the same opposition. While Ange Postecoglou's men slammed four past both Oman and Kuwait, South Korea were able to defeat the two teams from the Gulf by just a single goal to nil.

But they got the only goal of the game when they met Australia in the match that decided who would top group A, and then showed commitment, stamina and good physical quality to see off Uzbekistan 2-0 in a quarter-final in Melbourne that was decided by two extra-time goals from star midfielder Son Heung-min.

In their semi-final they were just too good for an Iraq side that was probably physically and mentally drained from having to back up just three days after playing an exhausting 3-3 draw in a controversial quarter-final with Iran, which was decided on penalties.

More to the point they kept their fifth clean sheet in a row – testament to the way in which Stielike, who took over as coach only after their disappointing World Cup, has organised the defence and brought it tightness and stability. The win over a weakened Australia, says the coach, was critical, as it immediately conferred all the advantages that normally accrue to the host nation to South Korea.

While Australia has had to venture to Brisbane for a quarter-final with China and Newcastle for their semi-final meeting with the UAE, the Koreans played last Thursday in Melbourne and then had a four-day break before playing the Iraqis in Sydney. Unlike their opponents, they don't have to move until after the final.

"We had two important games; the first one was Australia, " Stielike explained. "The design of the tournament, it's the same in every country, that the host is playing the best way to get to the final. With our victory we took Australia's position. That gave us one day more to rest for the upcoming games."

That alone was crucial as, says Stielike, so exhausted were his men after the quarter-final win in 120 minutes over Uzbekistan that he was "not sure we could have played three days after  the game with the Uzbeks".

"The second big victory was today [in the semi-final]. After 27 years Korea will be in the final." But, he warned, that was not enough excuse to rest on their laurels. "There is a lot of work to be done in the future. Even if we win the tournament Korean football has a lot of work to do."

Still, having blooded a number of youngsters in this tournament, Stielike believes he is laying the groundwork for the next generation of Koreans to come through and continue their strong run in World Cup qualifying.

Mentally, he says, his players showed plenty of strength and determination to see off Iraq, especially as they gave up some cheap possession in the first half.

THREE TO WATCH FOR THE FINAL

Son Heung-min: Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder, Son netted twice in the quarter-final and is a player of genuine class who provides the South Koreans with an X-factor that most other teams do not possess. Skilful, quick and the go-to man for his team.

Ki Sung-yeung: The national team captain, central midfielder Ki plays his club football in the English Premier League with Swansea City, whom he joined in 2012 after spending his first three years in Europe at Glasgow giants Celtic. Has also had time on loan at Sunderland. Calm on the ball, Ki can be relied on to retain possession, recycle the ball and start to build Korean attacks.

Lee Jeong-hyeop: Tall rangy striker, the forward is still on service with the South Korean military but has made his mark in this tournament as a surprise call-up who had not been capped before. The 23-year-old scored the winner in the group game against Australia, and then netted the first in South Korea's semi-final triumph over Iraq.