Tournament hosts Australia have won their maidan AFC Asian Cup title with a win against Korea Republic in the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 final played at Stadium Australia on Saturday.
Swindon Town midfielder Massimo Luongo opened the score for the Socceroos against the run of play in the 42nd minute. Trent Sainsbury delivered a perfect through ball to Luongo who glided in and fired home with a powerful shot into the bottom right corner.
Korea Republic continued to dominate the final despite Australia taking the lead moments before the half-time break. The Koreans played an up tempo and fast paced game but they couldn’t convert their dominace into a goal.
Australia had already one hand on the silverware when Korea Republic levelled the score line with an injury time goal. Bayer 04 Leverkusen star Son Heung-min went past Sainsbury to drag the ball to his right foot and put the ball past Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan.
The AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 final infront of an amazing crowd at the Stadium Australia went into extra-time. The final developed into an end-to-end affair with Australia looking confident despite suffering the late equaliser.
Australia turned the game into their favour in the 102nd minute when Tomi Juric kept possession at the byline despite pressure by two Korean defenders before managing to deliver a cross into the box. Korea Republic goalkeeper Kim Jin-hyeon had no other answer to the cross than pushing it straight out in front of him just to see on-rushing James Troisi put the ball into the back of the net.
The Socceroos didn’t give away their lead this time and sealed their first-ever AFC Asian Cup title with a 2-1 win after 120 minutes.