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S. Korea loses to Australia 2-1 in Asian Cup final

January 31, 2015
Team Australia celebrates after winning the AFC Asian Cup final soccer match between South Korea and Australia in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Quentin Jones)

Team Australia celebrates after winning the AFC Asian Cup final soccer match between South Korea and Australia in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Quentin Jones)

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia won its first Asian Cup title by beating South Korea 2-1 after extra time Saturday in the final at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium.

Substitute James Troisi tapped home the winner after Kim Jin-hyeon could only parry striker Tomi Juric’s low cross just before the midway point of extra time to give Australia its maiden continental title after it joined the Asian confederation in 2006.

Earlier, a superb long-range strike by Massimo Luongo just before halftime had put Australia ahead before South Korea’s standout player Son Heung-min equalized deep into second-half injury time.

South Korea, which had not conceded a goal until the final, has now lost its past four finals and has not won the tournament since 1960.