News Nation Logo

Australia won first football Asia cup beating South Korea

Troisi Broke Korean Hearts With The Very Last Kick In The First Extra Period After Son Heung-Min Had Snatched A Magical Injury-time Equaliser At The End Of Normal Time.

PTI | Updated on: 01 Feb 2015, 10:04:08 AM

Sydney:

Substitute James Troisi smashed home a dramatic extra-time winner as Australia beat South Korea 2-1 to win their first Asian Cup title in an electrifying final.

Troisi broke Korean hearts with the very last kick in the first extra period after Son Heung-Min had snatched a magical injury-time equaliser at the end of normal time.

Australia’s triumph gave them a first title since defecting from Oceania nine years ago, while South Korea’s anguish continued after they failed to break a hoodoo in the tournament stretching back to 1960. “It was a super effort from everyone,” said Australia coach Ange Postecoglou. “It was a final, it never goes to script. It was tough, you’ve got to grind it out and the courage the players showed tonight was enormous.”

“I knew we’d finish stronger,” he added, before shaking the hands of the devastated Korean players.

It could also further antagonise countries said to be behind a movement to oust Australia from the Asian confederation after shock revelations in the build-up to the final.

The Socceroos, runners-up to Japan in 2011, had been on the brink of victory thanks to a fierce strike from Massimo Luongo on the stroke of half-time, which triggered wild celebrations from the waves of fans in green and gold in a crowd of 76,000.

Australia, the Asian Cup’s top scorers with 14 goals, were forced to dig deep in a reversal of the group meeting between the two sides earlier in the tournament, which was dominated by Australia but won 1-0 by the Koreans. 

For all the Latest Sports News News, Football News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.

First Published : 01 Feb 2015, 09:54:00 AM

Videos