SYDNEY: Substitute James Troisi scored halfway through extra-time in a pulsating final to give tournament hosts Australia their maiden Asian Cup title with a 2-1 victory over South Korea on Saturday.

South Korea’s Son Heung-min scored in stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes to send the match into the extra half an hour, cancelling out Player of the Tournament Massimo Luongo’s strike on the stroke of half-time.

It was just before another break with 105 minutes on the clock that striker Troisi tapped home the winner after Kim Jin-hyeon could only parry striker Tomi Juric’s low cross to make Australia champions of Asia nine years after they had switched from the Oceania confederation.

“To concede a goal in the last minute really tested us as a group and the players stood up once again,” coach Ange Postecoglou told reporters.

“Full credit to them, I couldn’t be prouder of them and it’s great for our country.”

Australia’s historical triumph vindicated Postecoglou’s decision to overhaul the team after its “golden generation” passed their prime.

It could also further antagonise countries said to be behind a movement to oust Australia from the Asian confederation after shock revelations in the build-up to the final.

Former World Cup semi-finalists South Korea had ridden their mean defence to a first Asian Cup final since 1988 but despite being the better side for much of the match, they failed to break a hoodoo in the tournament stretching back to 1960.

Luongo’s goal was the first they had conceded in the tournament and for most of the second half it looked the goal-shyness which characterised the start of their campaign had returned to haunt them.

With regulation time running out, though, substitute Han Kook Young dispossessed Trent Sainsbury on the edge of the box and Lee Jeong-hyeop fed the ball to Son who angled it into the net with his left foot under the challenge of two defenders.

“We don’t have the Cup but we the way we played today we are also champions,” said South Korea’s German coach Uli Stielike. “I think the best result from such a match would have been a draw and we take the Cup for two years each, but I know it can’t be like this. Korea, you can be proud of your boys.”

Australia’s rampant attack had notched a tournament-leading 12 goals in five games coming into the final but was largely muted in the first half as South Korea quickly settled and frequently found its way into the final attacking third.

The outstanding Son had his sights set just too high in the second and 37th minutes and Luongo was on hand to block his shot after Cha Du-ri’s charge down the right wing in the 38th.

Seven minutes later and midfielder Luongo was down the other end to take Sainsbury’s through ball with a deft touch and lash it into the back of the net from 25 metres.

South Korea pressed forward in search of an equaliser but were grateful to goalkeeper Kim Jin-hyeon for a fine save from Mathew Leckie on the hour mark, as they had been in the first half when he stopped a Tim Cahill shot.

With the match drifting into stoppage time, Son pounced in show-stopping fashion, drilling a left-foot shot past Ryan before celebrating with the massed ranks of “Red Devils” fans behind the Australian goal.

South Korea were re-energised at the start of extra time, but Juric picked Kim Jin-su’s pocket and when his cross was pushed out by Kim Jin-hyeon, fellow substitute Troisi belted the ball into the roof of the net.

The Korean players, who had surpassed expectations after the squad was ravaged by injuries and sickness during the tournament, slumped to the turf in tears at the final whistle as the Socceroos danced with joy.

Loud booing directed at FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Asian football chiefs as Australia’s players collected their prize mattered little to the winners, who did a lap of honour wearing shirts emblazoned with “Champions 15 “on the back.

Published in Dawn February 1st, 2015

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