JAPAN 1-0 AUSTRALIA (AET)
Doha, 09/01/2011
Scorer: Lee (109 mins)

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For the first time in the Unofficial Football World Championships’ 139-year lineage, the UFWC title was contested at the Asian Cup final, with Japan and Australia competing to unify the Asian and UFWC title. And it was a gripping match, with extra time needed to separate two excellent teams.

Japan were the current Unofficial Football World Champions, having taken the UFWC title into the Asian Cup tournament and remained unbeaten throughout. Japan had won five UFWC title matches before today, while Australia had won just one. Japan had also won three Asian Cup finals. Australia, of course, are relatively new to Asian football.

Japan were without the injured Shinji Kagawa, who was replaced by Jungo Fujimoto. Defender Maya Yoshida replaced Daiki Iwamasa. Australia left Robbie Kruse on the bench, despite his impressive contribution to the 6-0 win over Uzbekistan. Keeper Mark Schwarzer made a record-breaking 88th international appearance for the Socceroos.

For the first time, major organisational problems were evident in Qatar – the host nation for World Cup 2022. Reports suggested that the stadium gates were closed an hour before kick-off, with hundreds of ticketholders stuck outside behind a security cordon, the game having been oversold.

The match itself began at a lively pace, with both sides pushing forward. Japan impressed with their passing game, but Australia quickly demonstrated that they held an aerial advantage – Everton’s Tim Cahill going closest with a typically astute header. Luke Wilkshire found plenty of space on the right flank, and troubled the Japanese defence with several dangerous crosses. The lively Harry Kewell headed one such cross over the bar.

Japan were enjoying a fair share of the possession, without really creating any clear cut chances, and midfielders Yasuhito Endo and Keisuke Honda struggling to find a pass that would penetrate the Socceroos back line.

With half an hour gone, Australia went very close again, as a Lucas Neill cross was headed on by Cahill to Kewell, who smashed his shot into the side netting.

Then, on 38 minutes, Honda finally managed to thread a pass through the Australian defence, finding Endo, who teed up Ryoichi Maeda. But Maeda’s shot went over the bar.

The first half finished goalless, but it was clear that Japan would have to get to grip with the succession of high balls being pumped into the box by Australia, and the heading ability of danger man Cahill. The box-to-box running of the Socceroo midfielders had also rattled the Japanese.

As the second half began, Australia’s aerial dominance continued to cause havoc in the Japanese defence. Luke Wilkshire’s cross hit the crossbar, then hit Cahill, bounced along the goaline, and was cleared. Cahill claimed a goal, Australia celebrated, but the referee waved play on. Replays showed that the ball had not crossed the line, and it was a great call from the referee and linesman – even without the aid of technological assistance.

Japan immediately looked to make a change, with Iwamasa waiting to come on. Oddly, though, it took a good five minutes for the substitution to actually happen, with Jungo Fujimoto the man replaced.

Gradually, Japan began to get a better foothold in the game. A Hasebe cross fell to Maeda on the edge of the six yard box, only for the Australian defence to hack clear. Maeda went close monets later, driving a shot into the side netting. Then a Yuto Nagatomo cross from the left found Shinji Okazaki, who headed wide the best chance of the match.

Then an even better chance fell to Australia, Kewell finding himself through with the keeper to beat, only for Eiji Kawashima to make a good save with an outstretched boot. As Australia regained the initiative, a David Carney drive was deflected wide by Hasebe.

But neither side was able to break the deadlock, and, with the score 0-0 after 90 minutes, the game went into extra time. Japan had suffered through extra time and penalties in their semi final against South Korea, while Australia were potentially fresher, having strolled past Uzbekistan in 90 minutes.

Extra time began with the Japanese defence again in disarray. Within a couple of minutes, two Carney crosses ricocheted around the Japanese six-yard box before eventually being hacked clear.

Sub Brett Emerton went close with a curling left-foot effort from the edge of the box, and then Australia introduced Melbourne Victory youngster Robbie Kruse, who made two and scored one in the win over Uzbekistan. And within seconds, Kruse saw his header from an Emerton cross tipped away by Kawashima.

Japan immediately responded, with Honda curling a shot past the post. Then Matt MacKay went close for Australia. But the first half of extra time ended scoreless.

Japan had proved their penalty shoot-out mettle in the semi final, but any thoughts they might try to play out this match were dispelled as the second half of extra time began, with a period of intense Japanese pressure, testing Australia with two corners in quick succession.

And then, finally, after 109 minutes of play, the deadlock was broken. Nagatomo’s cross from substitute Tadanari Lee in rare space, and he made no mistake, brilliantly left-foot volleying past Schwarzer. 1-0 to Japan. It was only the second goal Australia had conceded in the tournament.

To make things worse for the Socceroos, the partially fit Cahill had finally run out of steam, and had to be substituted.

Japan continued to press, and an Endo free kick forced a decent save from Schwarzer. But Australia weren’t about to give up, and continued to throw bodies forward.

As time ticked away, Australia were given one last chance with a free-kick on the edge of the box. Carney drove the ball into the Japanese wall, and a scramble ensued, but eventually the ball was cleared – and the final whistle was blown.

So Japan won 1-0 after extra time, retaining the UFWC title and winning the Asian Cup, unifying the titles for the very first time. The Blue Samurai never buckled under some intense aerial pressure from Australia, and took their opportunity when it came, with Lee’s excellent goal worthy of winning any game.

Australia more than played their part in a very good game, and were excellent in long stretches. But they suffered because of failing to take their chances.

Japan will now have an opportunity to savour their victory, and their status as combined Unofficial Football World Champions and Asian Cup winners. This was their sixth UFWC title match win, and their fourth Asian Cup final win.

The Blue Samurai’s next match will be a UFWC title defence against Montenegro on 25 March. We’ll be covering the aftermath of today’s match, and building up to the next one, here over the next few weeks. We’ll be starting with an Asian Cup recap, so keep checking back for all the latest on the Unofficial Football World Championships.

You can follow Paul Brown on Twitter @realpaulbrown.

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Match Reports australia, japan

JAPAN vs AUSTRALIA
Asian Cup Final, Doha, 29 January 2011, 18:00 local, 15:00 UK

New to the UFWC? Check out the beginner’s guide.

Tomorrow will see Unofficial Football World Champions Japan face title challengers Australia in the Asian Cup Final. This is the first time the UFWC title has been contested at the Asian Cup, and whoever wins will be the first nation to unify the UFWC and Asian titles. This match comes just six months after the UFWC was contested at the World Cup Final. Spain unified the unofficial and official titles in that match, but subsequently lost the UFWC title to Argentina, who went on to lose out to Japan.

The Blue Samurai took the UFWC title into the Asian Cup, and have remained unbeaten throughout. But that fact shouldn’t necessarily make them favourites. The Netherlands took the UFWC title into the World Cup, and retained it all the way to the final, but then lost out to the Spanish. Can Australia stage a similar title coup in this final?

For the record, this is how the UFWC title reached the final: It’s a common misconception that whenever the title goes into a major tournament it will end up being held by the tournament winner, but in fact, as has happened many times, it’s quite possible for a title holder to fail to reach the knock-out stages. So the fact that the UFWC has reached the World Cup and Asian Cup Finals within such a short period of time is something special.

Japan have remained unbeaten throughout the Asian Cup, despite some very close calls. An injury time leveller was required to snatch a 1-1 draw with Jordan, and a late penalty secured a 2-1 win over Syria. A last minute goal beat hosts Qatar 3-2, and Japan eventually reached the final by beating South Korea on penalties. Only the 5-0 group stage win over a shattered Saudi Arabia was comfortable.

09/01/11 JAPAN 1-1 JORDAN AC Doha
13/01/11 SYRIA 1-2 JAPAN AC Doha
17/01/11 SAUDI ARABIA 0-5 JAPAN AC Al Rayyan
21/01/11 JAPAN 3-2 QATAR AC Doha
25/01/11 JAPAN 2-2 SOUTH KOREA (3-0 PENS) AC Doha

Australia’s Asian Cup began with a 4-0 win over India. A 1-1 draw with South Korea and 1-0 win over Bahrain saw them reach the quarter finals, where they needed extra time to beat Iraq 1-0. The semi-final saw an impressive 6-0 win over Uzbekistan.

As far as team news goes, Japan will welcome back Maya Yoshida from suspension, but will miss the excellent Shinji Kagawa, who has a broken foot. Many viewers will focus on influential midfielder Keisuke Honda, who took one of the worst penalties you will ever see in the match against South Korea, but was brave enough to step up to take another – and score – in the shoot-out.

Australia have worries over the fitness of Tim Cahill, who hasn’t been at his best during this tournament. He’s likely to play, but it will be interesting to see whether Australia coach Holger Osieck finds room for Robbie Kruse, who came off the bench to make two and score one in the win over Uzbekistan, in his starting eleven. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will become his country’s most capped player in the final, notching up 88 international appearances.

The Socceroos have been Unofficial Football World Champions once previously, beating the USA 1-0 in 1992 courtesy of a Warren Spink goal to take the title at the first time of asking. Australia lost their next match, and the UFWC title, to Argentina. Their last UFWC attempt ended in a goalless draw against then-champions the Netherlands in October 2009.

Japan’s recent run as UFWC champions has seen them accrue five title match wins and rise to 27th in the overall UFWC rankings table. They still have some way to go to catch top-ranked Scotland’s 86 title match wins, but a win tomorrow would give them the opportunity to go on a longer run as champions.

By comparison, FIFA rank Australia slightly higher than Japan – the Socceroos are ranked 26th compared to the Blue Samurai’s 29th. And Japan have Asian Cup form, of course, having already won the tournament three times.

Looking beyond tomorrow, if Japan win, the next UFWC title match will see them defend the title at home against Montenegro. If Australia win, their first title defence would be a daunting trip to Germany.

You can watch a free and legal live stream of the match via Bet365. Kick off in Doha is 18:00 local time, 15:00 in the UK. Just click on the link below. You’ll need to create an account if you don’t already have one, but you don’t need to make a bet. If you do open an account and decide to make a deposit of £10 or more, you’ll be entitled to up to £200 in free bets.

So all eyes are on Japan vs Australia. Who will come out of the match as Asian Cup winners AND Unofficial Football World Champions? Feel free to make a prediction below and add your comments. We’ll be back with a match report shortly after the final whistle. For updates before and during the match follow us on Twitter @UFWC_Football and @realpaulbrown. Enjoy the game.

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Match Previews australia, japan

AUSTRALIA 0-0 NETHERLANDS, Sydney, 10/10/09

Australia and the Netherlands played out a 0-0 draw, meaning that the Dutch retain the UFWC title.

In a game of few chances, the Netherlands came closest to breaking the deadlock, with star man Wesley Sneijder unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.

Australia improved in the second half, but overall the match was as damp as the conditions it was played in, and the 40,537 spectators at the Sydney Football Stadium did not see a goal.

The Socceroos maintained their recent unbeaten record, but that wasn’t enough to dislodge the UFWC champions.

The next match will see the Netherlands take on FIFA World Champions Italy on 14 November.

Match Reports australia, Netherlands