JAPAN WINS 4 - 3 on penalties
Penalties: 0 = successful x = unsuccessful
Australia:
1- Kewell x
2- Neil x
3- Cahill 0
4- Carle 0
5- Carney 0
Japan
1 - Nakamura 0 (Schwarzer got a hand to it)
2- Endo 0
3- Kumano 0
4- Takahara x
5- Kawazawa 0
120′ Schwarzer clears off the line. FULL-TIME…penalties
116′ Australia playing for penalties. We are picking the ball up and running it to the corners.
112′ Sato puts his shot over the bar following good pressure from Milligan and Beauchamp
109′ Japan corner. Cleared over bar by Beauchamp…very close.
106′ Emerton is a machine
105′ Half time Cahill with a slight chance that popped over the bar
99′ Japan trying to play possession football but Australia is holding their shape VERY well.
92′ Australia sitting back (could be a major mistake) and letting japan come at them at then trying to break through a long ball to Kewell
Highlights of second half show Schwarzer wanting.
FULL TIME 1-1 We go to extra time
92′ Kewell has taken a knock to the ankle. Limping heavily. All subs used though
90′ 3 additional minutes. Looks like extra time in Hanoi
89′ Australia hanging on…
80′ Carney booked for simulation after being felled by a clear foul. Refereeing is going off. Aussies look completely stunned. Nicky Carle on for Aloisi
Australia down to 10 men
75′ Grella - straight red card. (arm high in a heading contest). Harsh refereeing
71′ Takahara scores 1-1 Defensive mix-up. Cahill on for Bresciano
70′ ALOISI SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1-0 Australia
65′ Kewell bought down on the enge of the box (minimal contact admittedly). Kewell booked for ’simulation’. Harry looks amused but perplexed
63′ Aloisi to Kewell (wide left) ball to the back post but over the head of Bresha
60′ Japan coming in waves…some lovely inter play between the Japanese team. Kewell replaces Viduka!!!!!
56′ Emerton makes a mistake and Nakmura is into the penalty area but a desperate lunge saves. Too much action at the moment to give accurate record. Japan pressing. Kewell warming up
54′ After the initial pressure by Japan in this half, Australia have started to create a lot more pressure of their own. Finding some space especially on the flanks. Carney & Emerton are doing some sterling leg work
49′ Emerton in space just outside the Japan 18 but lobbs in a harmless shot/pass
46′ Swartzer had to stretch to save a Nakamura thundering shot. Japan have started fast and hard
No substitutions. Unchanged line-up for the Aussies at this stage
HALF TIME 0 - 0
45′ 1 added minute. Emerton cuts into the box but can’t get a ball away. Golden opportunity. Japan susceptible to the high ball
42′ Australia soaking up some pressure. We get our first free kick for the half. Ironic cheers from the Green & Gold Army
39′ Clumsy challenge by Beauchamp 25 yards out. Free kick to Japan. Wall blocks the kick. Ball comes straight back into the box but Takahara puts the ball harmlessly over the bar.
36′ Purposeful attack by Japan through ball to an unmarked Japanese player but his first time shot is bundled over the line by Swartzer in a bumbling attempt at a save. Corner amounts to nothing
33′ Aloisi receives a yellow card for a late tackle in the middle of the park. (harsh decision really).
Score: 0 - 0
Possession: Australia 52% Japan 48%
22′ Viduka receives a long throw in on the corner of the 6, turns beautifully and shoots but is denied by a desperate Japanese foot
17′ A real arm wrestle is taking place. Australia trying to slow things down a bit. It’s a very warm afternoon
11′ Viduka shoots from just outside the 18 but the shot is straight at the keeper
9′ Japan goes close (just wide of near post) with a header; results in a goal kick
5′ Emerton gets to the byline but corner results which is cleared
3′ Australia has started brightly and full of running
Kick off and Australia immediately on the attack
Starting Line-up (official)
1. Mark Schwarzer
2. Lucas Neill
6. Michael Beauchamp
22. Mark Milligan
5. Jason Culina
7. Brett Emerton
13. Vince Grella
20. David Carney
23. Mark Bresciano
9. Mark Viduka
15. John Aloisi
Unchanged
LIVE UPDATES direct from kick-off (approx. 8.20pm)
Quarter Final #3
Australia meets the team they wanted to avoid in the first Quarter Final of the Asia Cup in Vietnam on Saturday night.
Revenge for the first round defeat at German ‘06 seems to be the prime motivator for Japan, but I’m not sure what is going to get the Aussies fired up apart from avoiding the wrath of the Australian press. Even though the Aussies had a marked improvement in the standard of their play in their final group match against Thailand, they were far from convincing and were required to soak up an enormous amount of pressure that with a more astute and capable opponent would have equated to goals by the handful.
It is a bit surprising to see Mark Millagan being dropped in favour of an unfit and frankly, petulant Lucas Neil who seems to be capable of little apart from throwing a couple of hissy fits toward his team mates and coaching staff. Hardly becoming of a man who has aspirations toward the Australian captaincy.
Having watched Japan in their demolition and destruction of the previously impressive Vietnam, I fear for the continued involvement in this tournament. Will Japan be weary of the Aussies or will they dismiss us as lucky in Germany and pretenders in Asia?
When reviewing Australia’s participation in this tournament one can only hope they are doing an ‘Italy’ who started badly at German ‘06 but went from strength to strength to ultimately win the World Cup. Can the Aussies do the same at this tournament?
