Troisi’s extra-time goal gives Australia Asian Cup title

SYDNEY — Substitute James Troisi scored halfway through extra-time in a pulsating final to give tournament host Australia its 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 halftime.

It was just before another break with 105 minutes on the clock that striker Troisi put the ball into the net from close range to make Australia champions of Asia nine years after it 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.”

Former World Cup semifinalists South Korea had ridden its mean defence to a first Asian Cup final since 1988 but despite being the better side for much of the match came up short in its bid for a first title in 55 years.

Luongo’s goal was the first South Koreans 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.” 

Frantic start

Australians, the tournament’s leading scorers, had come out to attack as Postecoglou had promised but in frenetic start to the match, the South Koreans showed they had threats up front too.

The outstanding Son had his sights set just too high in the 2nd 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 minute.

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.

The lead was barely deserved but that did not stop the green-and-gold clad majority of the sellout crowd of 76,385 at Stadium Australia celebrating in a frenzy.

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 it had been in the first half when he stopped a Tim Cahill shot.

After Son’s goal had provided a dramatic conclusion to normal time and sent the match into the extra half an hour, Kim was again on hand to intercept Luongo’s cross with Socceroos lining up to put it into the net.

Five minutes later, though, Tomi Juric nutmegged Kim Jin-su after a wrestle on the edge of the box and Kim Jin-hyeon was only able to push the striker’s cross into the path of Troisi, who smashed the ball into the open goal.

Luongo named MVP

Luongo was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2015 Asian Cup.

The 22-year-old midfielder capped a brilliant performance throughout the tournament when he scored in the 45th minute, blasting the ball into the net with a shot from 25 metres out.

Luongo, who plays for Swindon Town in the third tier of English club football, made his international debut last year and was picked in the Australian squad for the World Cup but didn’t play a match.

But Luongo has since established himself as one of Australia’s most promising young players and forced his way into the starting line-up.

He scored a goal and was named man of the match in Australia’s opening match at the Asian Cup against Kuwait and was also named player of the match in the semifinal win over the United Arab Emirates.