Brazilian midfielder Geovanni fired Phil Brown's team into an early lead but the hosts recovered to level soon after the break through Cameroon defender William Paul Modibo.

Beijing looked bright and lively and probably slightly edged it, hitting a post late on. But Hull City held out for penalties.

Although the Tigers were first to miss from the spot, the Chinese side then put two efforts over. It means Hull City join Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the Barclays Asia Trophy with Beijing Guoan facing West Ham United in the third-place play-off on Friday.

Hull City: Matt Duke, Bernard Mendy, Michael Turner, Anthony Gardner, Kevin Kilbane, George Boateng, Geovanni, Dean Marney, Peter Halmosi, Nick Barmby, Caleb Folan. Subs: Andy Dawson, Kamil Zayatte, Liam Cooper, Jamie Devitt, Nicky Featherstone, Will Atkinson, Daniel Cousin, Tony Warner, Nathan Doyle, Bryan Hughes, Tom Cairney.

Beijing Guoan: Yang Zhi, Paul, Zhang Yunhai, Zhou Ting, Darko Matic, Lu Jiang, Yang Hao, Emil Martinez, Joel Griffiths, Ryan Griffiths, Yan Xiangchuang. Subs: Zhang Sipeng, Lang Zheng, Sui Dongliang, Yang Pu, Tao Wei, Huang Bowen, Zhang Xinxin, Zhu Yifan, Guo Hui.

Referee: Mr T. Hai.

Hull City got off to a great start taking the lead after just nine minutes. The hosts played the ball out of defence and straight to GEOVANNI who strode forward and hit a 20-yard swerving shot past the keeper to put the Tigers in front.

The keeper was beaten by the bend and pace of the new Nike Total 90 Ascente ball which will be used in the Barclays Premier League this season.

Geovanni almost got a second three minutes later, running forward but slipping slightly as he drilled a low shot a foot past the left post from 20 yards with Barmby in support.

Peter Halmosi almost got a second when his cross-shot was almost turned into his own net by a Beijing defender.

There was a slow tempo to the match in the heat and humidity with the Tigers looking comfortably in control and passing the ball well against the spirited hosts who drew a save from Matt Duke with a good Zhou Ting header from a free-kick 10 minutes before the break.

Another home header went wide as Beijing began to find their feet. Yan Xiangchuang, a constant threat on the right, volleyed a decent opportunity over the bar while Emil Martinez saw his free kick pushed around the post by Duke. 

But Phil Brown's men kept a tight grip on the match in the run-up to the break.

Half-time: Hull City 1-0 Beijing Guoan

Beijing made four changes at the break. To the delight of the home crowd, the hosts levelled two minutes after the re-start as Cameroon defender Paul Modibo got ahead of Gardner and forced home from close range following a cross from the right.

Fired by the goal, Beijing took control of the match with Hull suddenly struggling to get possession.

However the Tigers did go close on 55 minutes when Geovanni's well-struck shot was superbly saved by Yang Zhi to his right.

Tao Wei drove a 30-yard free-kick over the bar as the hosts continued to dominate. Phil Brown sent on Daniel Cousin in place of Geovanni in a bid to add more muscle in attack.

Mendy was booked for a high tackle and Turner survived a penalty appeal although his sliding tackle appeared to have nicked the ball away from the striker.

Martinez was causing problems for Hull with his pace down the right and a low angled cross-shot was pushed out by Duke and turned against the left post by Xiangchuang.

City appeared to be tiring in the heat and humidity. Duke tipped over a free-kick two minutes from time and then saved a long-range snap-shot as the match finished in a 1-1 draw.

That meant a penalty shoot-out to decide which side would face Spurs in Friday's final.

Jamie Devitt tucked the ball just inside the right post to put Hull City 1-0 up but Tao Wei levelled with a similar shot.

Andy Dawson smashed straight down the middle for 2-1 then Matt Duke got a hand to Zhou Ting's spot-kick but was beaten by the power.

Daniel Cousin whipped just inside the left post but again Beijing moved to level terms as Huang Bowen sent the keeper the wrong way.

Dean Marney saw his blast well saved by the keeper to his right but the Tigers had a let-off when Sui Dongliang scooped over.

Bryan Hughes held his nerve for 4-3 but Guo Hui equalised to force sudden-death. Caleb Folan sent Yang Zhi the wrong way and Zhang Xinxin fired over to hand victory to the Tigers.

Hull City now meet Tottenham Hotspur in Friday's final with Beijing Guoan taking on West Ham United in the play-off for third place.