Japan, Australia into Asian Cup final
Japan’s players celebrates after scoring the winning penalty during their AFC Asian Cup semifinal match against South Korea at Al-Gharafa Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday.SD-Agencies
THE growing soccer rivalry between Australia and Japan will reach new heights in the Asian Cup final after both won their semifinals in contrasting fashion Tuesday.
Japan beat its fierce rival South Korea in a penalty shootout while Australia routed 10-man Uzbekistan 6-0.
In a back-and-forth encounter, Japan came from a goal down to take the lead before South Korea equalized in the final seconds of extra time. With the score locked at 2-2, Japan won 3-0 on penalties.
Australia forward Harry Kewell scored inside five minutes, helping his team to a 3-0 lead by the time Uzbekistan went down to 10 men in the 65th minute. Australia scored three more in the most lopsided semifinal in the tournament’s history, earning its first place in the final of Asia’s premiere competition and silencing critics who felt this team coming in was too old and too slow.
Australia’s switch from the Oceania to the Asian confederation had quickly ignited a rivalry with Japan. Australia beat the Blue Samurai in the group stage of the 2006 World Cup before Japan exacted revenge by knocking the Socceroos out of the previous Asian Cup.
Saturday’s final will be an enticing clash between two teams, which entered the tournament considered to be the best teams in Asia and which both had a number of experienced, world-class players.
Seeking its third title, South Korea opened the scoring against Japan when captain Park Ji-sung, playing his 100th international, earned a penalty in the 23rd minute, which Ki Sung-yueng converted. The Blue Samurai leveled in the 36th, when Keisuke Honda sent a perfect through ball to Yuto Nagatomo on the left flank and he crossed low for striker Ryoichi Maeda.
Three-time champions Japan took the lead in extra time when Hwang Jae-won brought down Shinji Okazaki at the edge of the penalty area, and a penalty was contentiously awarded. Keisuke Honda missed the spot-kick but substitute midfielder Hajime Hosogai was first to the rebound, driving the ball into the roof of the net.
“It was quite strange when the referee pointed outside the penalty area and the linesman pointed inside,” South Korea coach Cho Kwang-rae said. “It’s part of the game and I respect the decision of the referee.”
Hwang made up for his earlier mistake by scoring a late equalizer in the dying seconds of extra time that sent the match to penalties. The Koreans seemed to have the momentum but couldn’t find the net in the shootout, missing one shot and having two others stopped by goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.
“After we scored, I really thought we would win this game,” Ki said. “We were just unlucky in the penalty kicks. That is just soccer.”(SD-Agencies)
Source:ShenzhenDaily | Editer:王佳