Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos star Tim Cahill predicts decider won’t need extra time

TIM Cahill has declared that Saturday night’s Asian Cup final will be decided within normal time and that the Socceroos will attack a conservative South Korea.

Australian striker Tim Cahill speaks to reporters at a press briefing ahead of their AFC Asian Cup final football match in Sydney on January 29, 2015. Australia will play South Korea in the AFC Asian Cup final in Sydney on January 31. AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS --IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

SOCCEROOS star Tim Cahill has declared that Saturday night’s Asian Cup final will be decided within normal time.

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Tim Cahill says concentration and discipline will be key.

The striker, who can still claim the tournament’s golden boot, has vowed that the Australian team will attack a conservative South Korea at ANZ Stadium.

Less than 1000 tickets were left on Thursday night, with 79,000 expected to cram the 2000 Olympic stadium.

While extra-time and penalties will decide the contest if scores are deadlocked at full-time, like the 2011 final when Japan beat Australia, Cahill predicted the trophy would be decided earlier.

“I am pretty sure this won’t go to extra time,’’ Cahill said.

“The boys have been well drilled and it’s about mentally being ready for 95 minutes of football because I don’t think this game is going to go beyond that.

“This is a final, anything can happen.

“It could be a set play that determines this, it could be them camped behind the ball for a very long time and trying to hit us on transition like they did.

“We want to win this game, we want to play it in the spirit we want to play in and we want to be consistent and have a good mindset of discipline.’’

South Korea are yet to concede in five Asian Cup games, and Cahill said their opponents’ cagey approach is in contrast to Australia’s.

After scoring eight of Australia’s 12 goals leading into the tournament, Cahill has been better supported at the Asian Cup with nine other players finding the back of the net.

“We are going into the game to attack. We are going to do exactly what we set out to do in the first game (against South Korea),’’ he said.

“We want to win and we are still very disciplined. We concede very few goals and if anything, set plays we fixed up the issue from the first game from that one runner that caught us off guard.

“We definitely understand the way they play and what they do but in a final it just takes one player to fall asleep and not follow their runner, or one player to make that elusive run and get a goal at the back post.

“They’ll definitely have to mix things up against us because we will play with intent and you won’t see the Australians camped behind the ball.’’

Cahill was delighted that Australia’s young players had flourished now that they’ve been given a chance, and backed them to stand up on the big occasion.

“I feel they are ready, I feel we are all ready and I feel that our mindset and professionalism is above and beyond what any team in this competition is doing,’’ Cahill said.

“Me, Mile (Mile Jedinak) and Bresh (Mark Bresciano) had a chat afterwards you see them maturing. Now this is definitely a big step in their careers for a learning curve.

“When you have see the growth in the team and also the confidence and way we have played, to see the boys a little bit disappointed in themselves that we didn’t play better even though we won 2-0 (against UAE) it was great to see.’’