Asian Cup Final: Socceroos leave it late to snatch victory

Australia have been crowed champions of Asia after a hard-fought, enthralling and energy-sapping 120-minute encounter with South Korea in Sydney.

It was tense, it was dramatic and it was, in the end, historic. A goal late in extra-time to James Troisi was enough to break the deadlock and put the Asian Cup in Australian hands for the first time.

A packed house and a pulsating crowd was on hand for the tournament’s showpiece. A block of red was situated behind one goal and a sea of vast gold covered the rest of the stadium.

Whatever the result, history was to be made in Stadium Australia that night. The parallels with November 2005 against Uruguay were plain to see.

Australia kicked off the match and early on a tone was set. Son Heungmin was crunched by Mile Jedinak in the second minute as he lined up a shot. Son came back and South Korea kept targeting Davidson on the left flank.

The Socceroos started with a physical presence but it was a Korean foul that gave the home team their first chance. Jang Hyunsoo tripped Mark Milligan and from the folloing free kick Jedinak was very close, his strike inches over the bar.

It was a frenetic opening period. Both teams were pressing hard and possesion was hard to hold on to. The Australians were guilty of giving the ball away cheaply, pushing far too many passes.

On 22 minutes South Korea had its best chance yet, a header from Kwak Taehwi drifting wide from a free kick. Two minutes later and Tim Cahill was almost in, turning his marker and unleashing a powerful shot that Kim Jinhyeon did well to push wide.

It was an even match but then South Korea started to get on top. On 36 minutes Son volleyed just wide after some lovely lead-up work. The Socceroos were living dangerously.

Less than 60 seconds later and they rode their luck again, Cha Duri breaking down on the right side and finding Son who’s shot was deflected away for a corner.

South Korea should have scored on 40 minutes after Jason Davidson was yellow carded for shirt-pulling on the edge of the box. But the Taeguk Warriors butchered the opportunity from close range.

It came back to haunt them a minute before the break when Massimo Luongo stepped up in style. Found by Trent Sainsbury, Luongo lost his man with a nice turn and let loose an unstoppable right-foot screamer from 25 yards.

Magic Mass had done it again. Completely against the run of play, the Socceroos were up 1-0.

South Korea went into the half a touch shellshocked after a half they mostly dominated. Surprisingly they had less possession, with Australia enjoying 54.2 per cent, but they definitely carved out the better opportunities.

It was a somewhat quieter opening period of the second half with South Korea failing to captialise on a few half chances.

Matt Spiranovic picked up a yellow for a body check on Nam Taehee but the following header was straight to Ryan. A minute after and Matthew Leckie stung one straight at the Korean keeper who pushed the shot wide.

On 62 minutes Ange Postecoglou took a gamble and took off Cahill early and brought on Tomi Juric. South Korea also made a change with Lee Keunho on and Nam off.

Soon after Jedinak went into the book and Robbie Kruse went down with an bad injury, with James Troisi replacing him. It was a big blow.

The Taeguk Warriors were getting another stangehold on the match. Uli Stielike made his second sub with Han Kookyoung on and Park Jooho replaced.

Then Ivan Franjic went for some treatment on 73 minutes, with no right back on the bench to replace him.

Matt McKay came on and Franjic went off, with Milligan moving back into the fullback position. The Socceroos were gravely holding on. Fifteen more minutes and the Asian Cup was theres.

As South Korea frantically pushed forward gaps appeared in their defence. Australia started to play some more football in their half.

On 83 minutes the visitors had a free kick within range but Son put the ball into row Z. The clocked ticked away, seven more minutes plus injury time for the Socceroos to hold out.

Troisi sent a dink wide on 85 minutes and then Stieleke made his last change, Kim Juyong on for Lee Jeonghyeop. Postecoglou paced the sideline as 90 minutes approached.

The fourth official announced there would be three minutes off added time. One hundred and eighty seconds until success.

Then came the dagger blow. On 91 minutes Korea pulled out a neat one-two and Son was there to finish past Ryan. 1-1. Disaster. Football can be the cruellest sport at times.

The match was on to extra-time – edge of your seat stuff.

The South Koreans were energised but the Socceroos were stronger for the first five minutes. Spiranovic was lucky not to go in the book at 97 minutes for a studs-up lunge.

All sections of the crowd were going crazy. The Korean fans were energised and the Australian supporters were trying to spur on their team.

The Taeguk Warriors almost scored on 102 minutes, when Ryan luckily parried a cross to a teammate. The tension went to a new level.

And then it came. Juric got to the byline, and after what seemed an enternity, somehow got by two defenders and squared the ball in. Kim Jinhyeon pushed the shot straight to Troisi who rifled it home into an empty net. Cue delirium, 2-1.

Australia was in the lead again with one 15-minute half to go. The adrenalin was through the roof.

Juric went down in the box with 11 minutes left in game but penalty appeals were waved away. The Socceroos pushed ahead for a third goal.

The stomach was clenched, the fingernails were eaten away.

Korean passes were cut out, balls cleared away, tackles jammed in. Spiranovic and Sainsbury, as well as Milligan in a makeshift role, were heroic. The seconds drifted along.

With 90 seconds left South Korea had a free kick from the Australia goal. Everyone bar their keeper pushed up by Ryan was there to punch the ball to safety.

Fifty seconds left and the roof almost came off Stadium Australia. One more minute off added time was announced. It seemed like an eternity.

South Korea sent one last attack but it was to no avail, time was up. The Socceroos were finally, finally Asian champions at their third attempt.

There was no repeat of Uruguay 10 years ago, no need for penalties. But history had been made on another fantastic night for Australian football.

Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson