Japan Win Asian Cup for Record Fourth Time

Posted Sunday, January 30, 2011 by english.cri.cn

Japan Win Asian Cup for Record Fourth Time
Japan's forward Tadanari Lee celebrates after scoring a goal against Australia during their 2011 Asian Cup final football match at Khalifa Stadium in the Qatari capital Doha. Lee scored an extra-time winner as Japan edged Australia 1-0 to win a pulsating Asian Cup final and become the most successful team in the history of the competition.

The Socceroos created more chances in a cautious first half through quick attacks and long balls. Cahill, Kewell took good use of their physical advantage in the box and made several threatening shots. Matt Mckay drove a powerful shot over the crossbar at the edge of the area following Cahill's square pass in the 2nd minute, and Kewell missed two headers in the first period.

The Samurai Blue played down the rhythm with patient passes in the midfield. Honda was still the most lively player but the whole Japanese side lacked some cutting-edge power before the box with safe, but not dangerous passes. Honda's 4th minute header inside the box following Yasuhito Endo's pass and Ryoichi Maeda's 37th minute shot provided also by Endo were the only threats before the break.

Australia missed a good opportunity three minutes into the second half, when Luke Wilkshire's right wing cross hit the bar and bounced to the left before Cahill's angled shot was cleared by a Japanese defender on the goalline.

Zaccheroni brought on tall defender Daiki Iwamasa to replace Fujimoto and moved leftback Yuto Nagatomo forward to the midfield, with an aim to add air defense. Nagatomo quickly adapted to the new position, crossing accurately for Shinji Okazaki to headed just a little bit wide of the post in the box on 66 minutes.

"I moved Nagatomo forward to the midfield because he has the speed, and I know he has the passing abilities, he can be attacking and quick. I didn't change the 4-2-3-1 system, if I added a defender and took off a midfielder, the players might think the team would be defensive. I don't want to do that," explained the former AC Milan manager.

The Socceroos hit back six minutes later, but Kewell's one-on- one shot after smartly rounded a defender with a header was saved by keeper Kawashima. Kewell nearly got another clear chance in the 87th minute when he rushed on to fight for a light back pass from Yasuyuki Konno, but a focused Kawashima denied it again.

In the first half of extra time, both teams changed a striker. Australia replaced Kewell by young talent Robbie Kruse, while Japan substitute Tadanari Lee for Ryoichi Maeda. Kruse was quickly into his role with an unstoppable header to be parried by Kawashima after substitute Brett Emerton's cross in the 104th minute, before Honda returned with a well-curved shot from the edge of the box wide of the post.

Finally it's Lee to be the hero. After Carney missed a 120th minute freekick from the edge of the box, the Socceroos have to taste the bitter feeling with veterans Kewell, Sasa Ognenovski and Mark Schwarzer ended their last Asian Cup in pain.

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