Tadanari Lee scored an extra-time winner as Japan edged Australia 1-0 to win a pulsating Asian Cup final and become the most successful team in the history of the competition
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| Japan's Tadanari Lee (right) celebrates after scoring in the Asian cup final against Australia |
Tadanari Lee scored an extra-time winner as Japan edged Australia 1-0 to win a pulsating Asian Cup final and become the most successful team in the history of the competition.
The unmarked substitute sent a stunning left-foot volley past the diving Mark Schwarzer in the 109th minute to hand his country their fourth title at the continental showcase, a feat no-one else has achieved.
The win, following their successes in 1992, 2000 and 2004, carried the added bonus of an automatic place at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazilu00a0-- the traditional World Cup warm-up tournament.
It followed a deadlocked match at 90 minutes that sent the game into extra-time, with penalties looking likely until Lee worked his magic.
Both teams had scored 13 times before the final and Australia looked most likely to add to that early on before Lee slotted home to create history.
