Australia lose to Japan on penalties

Australia produced their best performance of the Asia Cup, but it was not good enough to beat Japan.

The game ended 1-1 after extra time, and Japan won 4-3 on penalties.

Australian fans went into the game with some concerns given their defensive performances over the last twelve months.

Japan had a new coach, Ivica Osim, since the last world cup. He'd also made six changes to the team.

It was a good game. Tense and tactical. Both teams playing to their maximum. Japan kept the ball, moved it around and changed tempo.

Australia produced flashes of play from David Carney and Brett Emerton on the flanks. But Mark Scharzwer's distribution was woeful all night. And Mark Viduka and John Aloisi found it very difficult to find other Australian players when they did receive the ball.

But Australia scrapped and the defence was stronger than its been for months.

Mark Milligan Michael Beauchamp and Lucas Neill all started the game well.

Finally Australia took the lead in the Asia Cup. A Kewell corner bundled home by Aloisi.

The reward for effort and determination throughout the night.

They kept the lead for one minute. Just one.

Woeful defence from Neill and Milligan allowed Naohiro Takahara to turn in the box and shoot home.

Then disaster struck. A great game of football was ruined, once more by the referee. The ref, from Kuwait, had a strange game all night. Booking Carney and Kewell for diving. But more amazingly refusing free kicks on Aloisi time and time again.

Vince Grella jumped for a ball. His arm was out, but little intent or power. Takahara coming in from behind went down like he'd been hit by a tank.

Ref showed Grella a straight red, and he was gone.

Pity because this was an epic battle.

And the Aussies battled on. For the last fifteen of the game...and then all through extra-time.

Shunsuke Nakamura should have won it in the ninety. Scharzwer made a superb save. But apart from a similar chance at the end of extra-time, Australia played exceptionally well with ten men. Sure Japan had plenty of the ball but the Aussies were compact and kept the Japanese threats to a minimum.

It felt like the goal was to get to penalties, and that would be our best chance.

We did it. But of course the penalties are always a lottery.

Significantly Scharzwer saved nothing int he shoot-out. And Harry Kewell missed, followed by Lucas Neill. 0-2 is not how you win penalty shoot-outs.

And why did Neill take a two step walk up. Is it just me or do fans hate this approach, especially when they miss.

So Japan the Asian Cup Champions march on.

It was a great game. I loved every minute, but the ref spoiled the fare.

Australia may say they were unlucky, but in truth they lost this tournament they day they produced insipid performances against Oman and Iraq.

Arnold improved his defence only because Patrick Kisnorbo needed a break under the United Nations Human Rights Charter. Rule 30: All Centre Halves who make simple errors in major tournaments mus t be given a two week break form the glare of the fans and media. Without this rule Arnold would still have played him. Of that you can be sure.

And secondly when Neill was suspended he had to change his defence. And it worked against Thailand and against Japan despite Milligans error.

Australia were good enough to be playing Vietnam for a place in the semi-final not Japan.

And who takes responsibility for that?

It has to be Arnold.

Football is a tough business. Arnold should recognise his achievements and do the honourable thing.