Anthony Kim handed his Presidents Cup critic Robert Allenby another defeat to surge into the final of the World Match Play Championship against Englishman Ross Fisher in Casares, Spain.

American young gun Kim hit a purple patch late in Saturday's scheduled 36-hole semi-final to secure a comprehensive 5 and 4 win over the Australian whom he beat 5 and 3 at the Presidents Cup three weeks ago.

There were none of the post-match verbal slights that marked their Presidents Cup clash in San Francisco, when Allenby described Kim as the "loosest cannon" on the US team, and was quoted as saying his friends saw Kim returning to his hotel room at 4am.

Kim responded then by suggesting Allenby practice more.

Allenby later apologised in a PGA Tour-issued statement and Kim left the talking to his clubs as he triumphed on Saturday to make the World Match Play decider.

Kim and Allenby had been level with 13 to play, but Kim then won five of the next seven, four of them with twos - one of which was an eagle two at the 27th.

"It was such a big match for me - it was important for me to win this," said Kim. "I wanted to play well."

"Robert and I both played pretty well for the most part.

"I just turned it on the second 18 and felt like some putts were falling and a couple breaks were going my way - I feel very fortunate to come out of here."

Allenby admitted that he "just didn't quite play well enough this afternoon, and he (Kim) hit a lot of great shots and made a lot of good putts."

Fisher emerged victorious from a 39-hole marathon against Masters Tournament champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina in the other semi.

Fisher went from two up to one down against Cabrera with five to play but came back into the match by winning the 32nd and 33rd holes.

He then paid the price for laying up at the par five last, where Cabrera made birdie from the rough to force a sudden death playoff.

The pair returned to the final tee three more times before Fisher hit a brilliant fairway wood to 12 feet. Cabrera, who had bunkered and then hit over the green, then conceded defeat.

Fisher was given a boost as he bids to win this year's The Race to Dubai title, and he can move up from seventh to fourth in that respect if he beats Kim on Sunday.

But the Englishman is not placing his bets just yet.

"This is a great venue and a great test not just of golf, but also fitness levels. I've played 93 holes already," he said.

Looking ahead to his match with Kim, he added: "Dare I say it, it could be a possible Ryder Cup match for the future."