Japan may have won a record fourth Asian Cup -- its fourth success in six tournaments -- but there was a sense throughout the competition that the Japanese were living on the edge. In every game apart from the 5-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia, they flirted with defeat. Against Australia in the final, Japan was for a longtime the poorer side, but it demonstrated the same resilience as it had in finding a late equalizer against Jordan, a late winner against Syria and two late goals against Qatar and then overcoming the concession of a late equalizer to beat South Korea in a shootout in the semifinal. This time, thanks to some good fortune and a brilliant display form its goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, Japan didn't concede and found a way back into the game a smart tactical switch from coach Alberto Zaccheroni.
A volleyed goal from substitute Tadanari Lee in the second half of extra time earned Japan a 1-0 victory over Australia and a record fourth Asian Cup Saturday.
Harry Kewell scored a dramatic extra-time winner as Australia beat holders Iraq 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup in Doha Saturday.
Australia drew 1-1 with World Cup opponents Ghana despite playing with 10 men for over an hour of Saturday's Group D clash in Rustenburg.
The bizarre scene was enough to make dog-walkers stop and stare, as a gaggle of mustached men, dressed in 19th century waistcoats and ankle-length shorts, faced each other on a pitch at London's Battersea Park.
Galatasaray became the first club to book a place in the last 32 of the Europa League this season after winning 3-0 away to 10-man Dinamo Bucaresti on Thursday night.
Australia were frustrated in their bid to become the first side to reach next year's World Cup finals in South Africa after beating Uzbekistan 2-0 to regain control of Asian Group A.
Harry Kewell has been named in Australia's 27-man squad for the World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan on September 10.
Former Liverpool winger Harry Kewell is looking forward to the challenge of playing in Turkey after completing his move to Galatasaray.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called on his players to recapture the "spirit of Milan" as they bid to reach the Champions League last-four with a win over Liverpool.
Liverpool's Harry Kewell and Torino midfielder Vince Grella are included in a provisional 21-man Australian squad for this month's World Cup qualifier with China in Kunming.
Arsenal returned to the top of the English Premier League after captain William Gallas scored the winning goal against his former club Chelsea on Sunday.
Liverpool delivered a final emphatic chapter in their Champions League comeback on Tuesday when they mauled Marseille 4-0 to reach the last-16 knockout phase.
Australia start the task of picking up the pieces after a disastrous Asian Cup tournament, when they meet Argentina in a friendly in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Only a few matches into a comeback after 11 months on the sidelines, Harry Kewell claims he is 100 percent fit and ready to fire for Australia in the Asian Cup.
Australia coach Graham Arnold has recalled A-League Player of the Year Nick Carle to his squad for the friendly with China in Guangzhou on March 24.
Australia have named a near full-strength squad on Tuesday for next month's friendly with Paraguay and the Asian Cup qualifier against Bahrain.
Liverpool winger Harry Kewell has entered hospital in Sydney for the first of two operations aimed at reviving his stalled career.
Australian international forward Harry Kewell will miss the start of the Premier League season after foot surgery, his club Liverpool said on Friday.
Referees Graham Poll of England and Russia's Valentin Ivanov will not officiate at any more matches at the 2006 World Cup, FIFA said on Wednesday.
Australia have dropped goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac while forward Harry Kewell is struggling to be fit for Monday's World Cup second round clash with Italy in Kaiserslautern.
Australia reached the World Cup second round for the first time after holding Croatia to a thrilling 2-2 draw in their final Group F game.
Australian winger Harry Kewell could be suspended for his side's final group match against Croatia on Thursday after he was accused of insulting a referee.
Tim Cahill scored twice in six minutes to lead Australia to a stunning 3-1 comeback win over Japan in Monday's opening Group F clash on Monday.
Harry Kewell continued his battle to feature in Australia's opening World Cup game against Japan next week when he played almost an hour of his team's 3-1 friendly win against Liechtenstein here on Wednesday.
Harry Kewell scored two goals and set up two others as he made a surprise return for Australia in a World Cup practice match against a Dutch amateur team Friday.
Australia's Harry Kewell looks to be winning his fitness race ahead of the World Cup and is likely to take part in the Socceroos final warmup game against Liechtenstein on June 7.
John Aloisi, whose penalty earned Australia their first place at a World Cup finals for 32 years, will miss the Socceroos' final home warm-up match before the team goes to Germany.
Liverpool's Harry Kewell has been ruled out of Australia's World Cup warm-up against Greece in Melbourne because of a groin strain picked up in Saturday's FA Cup final.
Harry Kewell will miss at least the first two weeks of Australia's build-up to the World Cup finals after limping out of Liverpool's FA Cup final victory over West Ham in Cardiff on Saturday.
Australiaupdated: Wed Apr 26 2006 10:09:00
Group F | World ranking: 42
Australia's World Cup hopes were hit by a four-pronged injury scare following the weekend's FA Cup and Premier League matches in England.
Liverpool produced a superb display to recover from an early red card for captain Steven Gerrard to beat Everton 3-1 in a typically fractious Merseyside derby.
Liverpool kept the pressure on Manchester United in the race for second place in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday.
Liverpool claimed their first FA Cup win over arch-rivals Manchester United in 85 years as a first-half Peter Crouch goal gave them a 1-0 win that saw them progress to the quarterfinals.
Liverpool maintained their English title challenge with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Newcastle at Anfield to record their eighth straight Premier League victory.
Australia reached the World Cup finals after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Uruguay in Sydney on Wednesday night.
Captain Craig Moore has been left out of the Australia squad for their World Cup playoff with Uruguay because of a hamstring injury.
Oliver Kahn is hoping to celebrate his 36th birthday on Wednesday with an Confederation Cup victory for hosts Germany over Australia and to cement his place in the national team.
Liverpool have been dealt an injury blow ahead of their Champions League second leg tie against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday with the loss of Australian international Harry Kewell through injury.
Bayer Leverkusen's Brazilian defender Juan will miss the second leg of the Champions League clash with Liverpool on Wednesday because of an ankle injury.
Banned Steven Gerrard will be badly missed when Liverpool begin their bid to claim a place in the Champions League quarterfinals against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
Liverpool's French striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle will miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, the Premiership club confirmed on Friday.
Liverpool's French striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle faces a lengthy layoff after tearing a knee ligament during Tuesday's 1-0 League Cup semifinal victory at Watford.
Steven Gerrard led by example with both goals as Liverpool claimed a 2-0 win in their Champions League third qualifying round first leg at Graz AK on Tuesday.
Parma midfielder Marco Bresciano scored the only goal Tuesday as Australia beat South Africa 1-0 in an international friendly.
Michael Owen scored twice and set up the other to shake off his scoring slump as Liverpool jumped three places to fifth with a 3-0 win over Portsmouth.
Crisis club Leeds plan to challenge a FIFA ban on Mark Viduka playing against Manchester United on Saturday following an Australian protest.
Australia called up striker Mark Viduka for a friendly match against Venezuela on February 18, setting them on a collision course with his relegation-threatened club Leeds.
Australia and Liverpool midfielder Harry Kewell has been named Oceania Player of the Year for the third time in six seasons.
Liverpool survived a below-par first half performance to beat renowned FA Cup giantkillers Yeovil 2-0 in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
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