Australia 0 - 1 Japan
It took extra-time to separate the Socceroos and Japan in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup final on 29 January. Substitute Tadanari Lee scored a sensational volley to secure a 1-0 victory for Japan and a record fourth crown for the Samurai Blue.
Australia started the game more brightly and Matt McKay had a golden opportunity to put them in the lead early on; he had time and space in the box but sliced his close range effort wide. In a tight opening period, Australia looked the more likely side to take the lead; David Carney delivered some excellent balls into the area as the Socceroos looked to capitalise on the aerial threat of both Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell. The two combined superbly as the first-half wore on; Eiji Kawashima was forced into an instinctive save from a Kewell header after Cahill had flicked-on to set-up the opportunity. Kewell also went close with a volley after some more neat link-up play with Cahill.
Japan opportunities were limited in the opening half of the final and Australia looked extremely confident in defence having conceded just one goal prior to the final. Ryoichi Maeda blazed the clearest Japanese chance over the bar from inside the box late in the first half.
With no team able to find a breakthrough in the opening half, it was Australia who tried to break the deadlock in the second half. Australia came agonisingly close to scoring in the opening minuted of the second half; Luke Wilkshire’s dipping ball appeared at first glance to have crossed the line and Cahill followed-up but the ball was cleared. Appeals for the goal were waved away and replays of the incident revealed that the officials go the decision right.
For all Australia’s dominance, it was Japan who had the clearest sight of goal in the whole match just past the hour mark; Yuto Nagatomo crossed superbly for Shinji Okazaki who failed to get his header on target and the ball rolled harmlessly past the post.
Kewell then squandered a great opportunity for Australia; with just 20 minutes of normal time remaining, the Galatasary wide-man was clean through on goal, only to fire his shot straight at Kawashima who smothered the effort.
The two sides were the joint leading goalscorers of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup prior to the final but were both unable to find the elusive first goal and the match drifted towards extra-time.
Both sides pressed for a winner in extra time and it was Robbie Kruse, introduced as a substituted in place of Harry Kewell, who aimed a powerful header towards goal which was expertly saved by Kawashima. Moments later it was Japan on the attack; Keisuke Honda bent a drive marginally wide of the Australian post.
The tense encounter was decided by a moment of magic from Tadanari Lee, who opened his international goalscoring account in spectacular fashion. Lee smashed home a wonderful first time volley after excellent work from Nagatomo from a wide position.
Australia could find no way back into the match and it was Japan who saw out the remainder of the game, winning the match 1-0, and a record fourth Asian Cup.