Ticket-holders locked out of Khalifa Stadium before Australia face Japan in Asian Cup final in Qatar.

Japan won the Asian Cup final against Australia on a 1-0 victory in extra time. Tadanari Lee scored the winner to give the Japanese team its fourth continental title.Congratulations to Japan and all their fans!

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Union

Match Fit USA has gotten its hands on a copy of the GQ UK issue that features the Sons of Ben. Apparently, it isn't very complimentary: "Americans, he tells GQ UK's football savvy readers over the course of a few pages, are poseurs." MFUSA uses the GQ UK piece to do a fine job of both analyzing and defending the emerging and still developing supporters group culture in the US.

I must admit that due to time difference and media coverage in this part of the world, I have not seen any matches of the 2011 Asian Cup in the future World Cup hosts of Qatar. However, I will have to try to watch the final this next Saturday against two giants that I have found excellent to watch in the last two World Cups: Australia was great in 2006, barely losing to Italy, and fought well in