As January’s AFC Asian Cup looms ever larger on the horizon, www.the-afc.com rewinds to the competition’s 2011 edition and Japan’s capture of a record fourth continental crown.
When Japan’s Tadanari Lee pounced to score the winner against Australia in the AFC Asian Cup 2011 Qatar final, the Samurai Blue striker ensured a slice of history not only for himself, but for his country as well.
Prior to the continental get-together in Qatar, Japan had, along with IR Iran and Saudi Arabia, shared the title of being the most successful side in Asian Cup history, each side having won the tournament on three occasions. All that was about to change.
Lee’s extra time strike against the resilient Socceroos underlined the fact that Japan were indeed Asia‘s rising power, and sealed a record fourth regional triumph for Alberto Zaccheroni’s men following back-to-back wins in 2000 and 2004, as well as their inaugural success in 1992.
Not that Japan had it all their own way in Qatar.
They began the tournament in somewhat inauspicious fashion, a 2-2 draw with Jordan in their Group B opener hardly an indication of what was to come. Undaunted, Japan bounced back admirably to record a narrow win over Syria and a 5-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia, duly sealing their place in the knockout phase.
With many observers busy making Japan favourites to win the competition, it soon became clear that a handful of other teams were also hitting form at just the right time.
Korea Republic, Australia and Qatar all impressed during the group stages, while Iran advanced from Group D with an admirable 100 per cent record.
As Asia watched on, it was Japan who kicked off the quarter-finals, a Shinji Kagawa brace and an 89th minute strike from Masahiko Inoha handing them a 3-2 win triumph over host nation Qatar and a place in the last four. Uzbekistan quickly followed suit thanks to a 2-1 win over Jordan.
The following day, defending champions Iraq were eliminated following a 1-0 extra time loss to Australia, while Korea Republic also required 120 minutes to beat IR Iran 1-0 courtesy of a Yoon Bit-garam strike.
Only four teams were left standing, and all eyes duly turned to the Al-Gharafa Stadium as fierce rivals Japan and Korea Republic locked horns with a place in the final at stake.
Ki Sung-yueng drew first blood for the Taegeuk Warriors when he converted a 23rd minute penalty, only for Ryoichi Maeda to equalise six minutes after the half-hour mark.
With neither team able to find a winner, the game went into extra time, and it was Japan who edged ahead, Hajime Hosogai scoring in the 97th minute.
Just when it looked as though Japan had done enough for the win, Hwang Jae-won scrambled the ball home in the 120th minute to send the match to a penalty shootout.
It was, however, not to be for the Koreans as they failed to convert their first three efforts, paving the way for Yasuyuki Konno to convert the winning kick from 12 yards and book Japan a spot in the final.
Being crowned champions was, nevertheless, far from a foregone conclusion for Japan, especially after Australia joined them in the final thanks to an emphatic 6-0 win over Uzbekistan.
In the end, and after all the drama that had unfolded in Qatar, it came down to one final match. Japan versus Australia at the Khalifa International Stadium. One team looking to claim a record fourth title, the other hoping to seal a maiden crown having joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.
The Australians undoubtedly enjoyed the better of the proceedings and it was they who came closest to sealing a win in regulation time, Luke Wilkshire’s cross just after the break coming back off the bar before Tim Cahill’s follow-up effort was cleared off the line.
With the score level at 0-0 after 90 fascinating minutes, extra-time beckoned once again, and it was the Samurai Blue who went on to claim the title in the 109th minute – Lee converting a Yuto Nagatomo cross to spark wild celebrations in the Japan camp.
To cap off a fine tournament for them, Samurai Blue playmaker Keisuke Honda picked up the Most Valuable Player award, while Korea Republic’s Koo Ja-cheol was named Top Goalscorer for his five-goal haul.
