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More than just a win

SYDNEY — Australia’s victory over South Korea in the Asian Cup final on Saturday capped a remarkable period for a nation that is just awakening to the possibilities that membership of Asia provides — on and off the field.

Australian captain Mile Jedinak (centre) and his team celebrating their historic Asian Cup win. Photo: Reuters

Australian captain Mile Jedinak (centre) and his team celebrating their historic Asian Cup win. Photo: Reuters

SYDNEY — Australia’s victory over South Korea in the Asian Cup final on Saturday capped a remarkable period for a nation that is just awakening to the possibilities that membership of Asia provides — on and off the field.

In three months, Australia have catapulted themselves to the forefront of the Asian football confederation. Watched by a 76,385-strong crowd, Australia’s 2-1 defeat of two-time champion South Korea in extra time at Sydney’s Olympic stadium was the country’s first Asian Cup title since moving to the Asian zone from Oceania in 2006.

Substitute James Troisi fired the winner — team-mate Massimo Luongo’s first-half strike was cancelled out by an injury-time equaliser from Son Hyeung-min — to continue a run of strong performances at the quadrennial continental championships for Australia, which lost 1-0 in the 2011 final to Japan.

“The goal should be for this confederation to break the European and South American monopoly on the World Cup,” said Australia coach Ange Postecoglou after guiding the Socceroos to their breakthrough victory. “This tournament here, it’s a great achievement, but it’s not the end of the journey. It is the beginning for us.

“I’m not going to put any limits on this group of players. Whatever we do, we’ve set the standard here today.”

The Asian Cup was the first major football tournament Australia have hosted and provided much-needed positive news after the controversial 2022 World Cup bidding process, which saw Australia lose to Qatar. FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s presence at the medal presentation after the final triggered boos from home fans eager to voice their displeasure at the tainted governing body.

The tournament, though, was well supported by the general Australian public, with more than 640,000 people attending the 32 games in five cities — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle — a 50 per cent increase in attendances from the previous edition in Qatar in 2011.

The organisers also boasted of record television audiences across the continent. In China, Asia’s biggest market, the cumulative average viewership for the event was 182 million by the end of the semi-finals and the cumulative reach totalled 950 million.

Viewership in Australia exceeded one million for their semi-final victory over the United Arab Emirates, making it one of the most widely watched matches in the country’s history.

“It’s incredible the amount of people that came tonight. For me, I think it’s the biggest Australian success in sport,” said Australia winger Mathew Leckie. “Champions of Asia, it’s quite incredible and you know you could see how much everyone loved tonight.”

Postecoglou added: “We came into this confederation knowing it would be a huge challenge; the Matildas won the (women’s) Asian Cup (in 2010), then the Wanderers in the Champions League and, now, we’ve won.

“I said from Day 1 we won’t take a backward step from anyone. We don’t do it in another sport and we don’t do it in football.” AP

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