2011 AFC Asian Cup final

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup Final was a football match that took place on 29 January 2011 at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, to determine the winner of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. The match was won by Japan, defeating Australia 1–0 after extra time through a goal scored by Tadanari Lee.[2] Japan thus qualified for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup as the representative from AFC.[3][4]

2011 AFC Asian Cup Final
Khalifa International Stadium (pictured in 2010) held the final
Event2011 AFC Asian Cup
Australia Japan
Australia Japan
0 1
After extra time
Date29 January 2011
VenueKhalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
Man of the MatchEiji Kawashima (Japan)
RefereeRavshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Attendance37,174
WeatherClear
19.0 °C (66.2 °F)
78% humidity[1]

The tournament's closing ceremony was held immediately before kickoff. 37,174 people attended the match, although several thousand supporters with tickets were prohibited from entering the stadium after entry was closed 30 minutes before the match commenced.[5][6][7]

A television viewing audience of 484 million in 80 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, North America and North Africa witnessed Japan defeat Australia 1–0 in the final.[8]

Background

The final was played between Japan and Australia. Japan, coached by Italian Alberto Zaccheroni, qualified for the final after defeating tournament host Qatar in the quarter-final and South Korea after a penalty shoot-out in the semi-final.[9] Australia, also led by a foreign coach (German Holger Osieck), opened the tournament with a 4–0 win over India on their way to winning their group, before defeating Iraq in the quarter-final, and thrashing Uzbekistan 6–0 in the semi-final.[10] For Australia, victory would bring its first ever title in an Asian tournament, having won three Oceania titles.[11] The match marked a record for Australia's goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, becoming the country's most capped player with his 88th appearance.[12] Shinji Kagawa missed the match due to injury.

Route to the final
Australia Round Japan
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
 India 4–0 Match 1  Jordan 1–1
 South Korea 1–1 Match 2  Syria 2–1
 Bahrain 1–0 Match 3  Saudi Arabia 5–0
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Australia 321061+57
 South Korea 321073+47
 Bahrain 310265+13
 India 3003313−100
 Final standing
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Japan 321082+67
 Jordan 321042+27
 Syria 310245−13
 Saudi Arabia 300318−70
Opponent Result Knockout stage Opponent Result
 Iraq 1–0 (a.e.t.) Quarterfinals  Qatar 3–2
 Uzbekistan 6–0 Semifinals  South Korea 2–2 (a.e.t.) (3–0 pen.)

Match details

Australia dominated the first half of the match, and had chances to score through their forwards Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell. Japan had a scare shortly after half-time when a cross from Luke Wilkshire was misjudged by Japan's goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and hit the crossbar, only for Cahill's shot to be cleared off the goal-line. Japan, however, had chances on the counter-attack including a wasted opportunity for Shinji Okazaki halfway through the second half, missing a header on goal while he was unmarked. The deadlock remained unbroken until the 20th minute of extra time, when Japan substitute Tadanari Lee scored off a cross from Yuto Nagatomo. Japan held its lead until the end of extra time to win the final.[13]

After the match, Keisuke Honda was named the "most valuable player" of the tournament.[12] Both managers praised their players after the match; Osieck expressed disappointment that Australia could not convert numerous opportunities to score, while Zaccheroni called Japan's win a "great victory" and hailed Lee's impact as a substitute.[14]

Australia 0–1 (a.e.t.) Japan
Report T. Lee 109'
Attendance: 37,174
Australia
Japan
GK1Mark Schwarzer
RB8Luke Wilkshire
CB2Lucas Neill (c)
CB6Saša Ognenovski
LB3David Carney
RM14Brett HolmanYellow card 39'downward-facing red arrow 65'
CM15Mile Jedinak
CM16Carl ValeriYellow card 16'
LM17Matt McKayYellow card 112'
SS10Harry Kewelldownward-facing red arrow 103'
CF4Tim Cahilldownward-facing red arrow 109'
Substitutions:
MF7Brett Emertonupward-facing green arrow 65'
FW23Robbie Kruseupward-facing green arrow 103'
MF22Neil Kilkennyupward-facing green arrow 109'
Manager:
Germany Holger Osieck
GK1Eiji Kawashima
RB6Atsuto Uchidadownward-facing red arrow 120'
CB22Maya Yoshida
CB4Yasuyuki Konno
LB5Yuto Nagatomo
CM7Yasuhito Endō
CM17Makoto Hasebe (c)
RW9Shinji Okazaki
AM18Keisuke Honda
LW14Jungo Fujimotodownward-facing red arrow 56'
CF11Ryoichi Maedadownward-facing red arrow 98'
Substitutions:
DF3Daiki Iwamasaupward-facing green arrow 56'
FW19Tadanari Leeupward-facing green arrow 98'
DF2Masahiko Inohaupward-facing green arrow 120'
Manager:
Italy Alberto Zaccheroni

Man of the Match:
Eiji Kawashima (Japan)

Assistant referees:
Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (Uzbekistan)
Rafael Ilyasov (Uzbekistan)
Fourth official:
Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia)


See also

References
  1. "Weather History for Doha, Qatar". Wunderground. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  2. "Australia 0 - 1 Japan". ESPN Soccernet. 29 January 2011. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  3. "Australia 0-1 Japan (AET)". goal.com. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  4. "Australia 0-1 Japan (AET". Daily Telegraph. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  5. Casey, Michael (29 January 2011). "Thousands of ticket-holders miss out on Asian Cup final after gates are closed before kickoff". The Canadian Press. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  6. "Japan wins Asian Cup with 1-0 over Australia". Associated Press. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  7. "Asian Cup blames royals' attendance". ESPN. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  8. "Asian Cup final 'rematch' kick-off time set". Asian Football Confederation. 23 April 2012. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  9. Paraskevas, Chris. "Asian Cup 2011: Japan's Path To The Final". goal.com. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  10. Paraskevas, Chris (29 January 2011). "Asian Cup 2011: Australia's Path To The Final". goal.com. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  11. O'Brien, Bren (28 January 2011). "Preview: Socceroos v Japan". Sportal. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  12. "Asian Cup dream ends in heartbreak". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 January 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  13. Lynch, Michael (30 January 2011). "Socceroos suffer extra-time heartbreak". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  14. "Heartbroken Socceroos 'proud, disappointed'". ABC News. 29 January 2011. Archived from the original on 14 February 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2011.

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