Reds take Glory in thriller

Brace ... Jeronimo celebrates after scoring. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Adelaide United import Jeronimo Neumann made the most of a sudden call-up to score twice in a 3-2 victory against Perth Glory at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Neumann came from the bench when Adelaide frontman Bruce Djite limped off after injuring a groin muscle just 80 seconds into the Hindmarsh Stadium fixture.

The second-placed Reds kept pressure on league leaders Central Coast with a win also featuring a stunning Iain Ramsay goal, before two Glory goals in the final four minutes gave Adelaide a fright.

Adelaide trail the Mariners by one point ahead of the pacesetter's away fixture against Melbourne Victory on Saturday.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	15	10	3	2	15	33
2	Adelaide	16	10	2	4	8	32
3	Victory	15	8	2	5	0	26
4	Western Sydney	15	7	2	6	4	23
5	Perth	16	5	4	7	1	19
6	Heart	15	5	3	7	-2	18
7	Brisbane	15	5	2	8	0	17
8	Newcastle	15	5	2	8	-9	17
9	Wellington	15	4	4	7	-3	16
10	Sydney	15	4	2	9	-14	14

Neumann's first goal came through good fortune, the second through Dario Vidosic.

The Argentine opened scoring in the 29th minute when Perth defender Scott Jamieson swung a leg in an attempted clearance near the penalty spot.

Jamieson badly miscued, just making enough contact with the ball to plop it over Glory goalkeeper Danny Vukovic and into Neumann's path for a tap in.

Eight minutes later, Vidosic delivered a calculating through pass to give Neumann a run at goal, and the striker trickled a left-footer past the approaching Vukovic which rolled slowly into the net.

Perth should have equalised two minutes later when three players had scoring shots in a pinball episode.

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Steven McGarry powered a long range attempt into a side bar, the ball fell to Shane Smeltz who blasted into a Reds defender and the rebound went to Liam Miller, whose shot was saved by Adelaide keeper Eugene Galekovic.

The fifth-placed Glory, winless from their past four games and losing touch with the top four, slipped further behind one minute into the second half when Ramsay netted a cracking one-timer.

A Vidosic corner was cleared by the Glory but the ball fell invitingly towards Ramsay, who sized up from 15 metres and powered a left-footer into the top corner to beat a diving Vukovic.

But Perth scored twice in the dying stages - a contentious 89th minute penalty to Shane Smeltz after he went to ground from slight contact with Reds defender Antony Golec, and a McGarry strike a minute before the final whistle.

Adelaide United coach John Kosmina said Djite's strained groin unsettled his side.

"You get a substitute that early ... we didn't panic, but we were shaky,'' Kosmina said.

"But we got three points against a really difficult team to play against.''

Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson said he was proud of the fight shown by his players, but lamented costly lapses.

"The first half I thought we played really well and to go down 2-0 (at halftime) was disappointing,'' he said.

''... But the pleasing thing or the positives that come out of it were we never stopped playing.''

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Bailey's 'B-team' beat up Sri Lanka

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Debut to remember ... Phillip Hughes belts a hundred against Sri Lanka. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

They may be Australia's "B Team" but George Bailey's men made a mockery of that moniker with a 107-run one-day win over Sri Lanka at the MCG on Friday.

Man of the match Phil Hughes (112) became the first Australian to score a century on ODI debut as Australia clobbered 5-305 before Clint McKay (4-33) helped bowl the Sri Lankans out for 198 with 10 overs to spare.

"It was a really great team effort to stand up on the back of  some criticism from outsiders and from some people who weren't sure  if we were up to it," Bailey said.

"Hopefully we've put those doubts to bed and the next challenge is to do it consistently and go two-nil up."

Hughes said he was flattered to be the first Aussie to score a century on his ODI debut.

Asked how he felt about going to the batting-friendly Adelaide Oval, Hughes grinned: "My confidence is quite high."

Mitchell Starc removed Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga for one and McKay struck a key blow when skipper Mahela Jayawardene was caught at slip for five.

Sri Lanka recovered to reach 2-111 at the 25-over mark but Tillakaratne Dilshan (51) was run out next ball by a direct hit from Usman Khawaja.

In a remarkable double-play of suicidal Sri Lankan running between wickets, cover fieldsman Glenn Maxwell ran out Angelo Mathews (12) and Lahiru Thirimanne (0) in consecutive deliveries in the 30th over as Sri Lanka slumped to 5-128.

Mitchell Johnson (2-43) dismissed Jeevan Mendis (20) caught at mid-off and 35-year-old wicketkeeper Brad Haddin pulled off a diving catch to remove the danger man Dinesh Chandimal for 73 in the following over from McKay.

Johnson also removed Thisara Perera (four) and McKay claimed the last two wickets in successive deliveries.

Despite fears of a very low crowd figure, 27,461 fans attended including several thousand Sri Lankan supporters.

Stand-in skipper Bailey (89 off 79 balls) and Hughes (112 off 129) shared a crucial 140-run stand for Australia's third wicket.

Australia's other top-order debutants Aaron Finch (16) and Khawaja (three) failed to match the crowd-pleasing strokeplay of Hughes who hit 14 fours.

David Hussey made a good fist of trying to slot into the finishing role made famous by his brother Mike with an innings of 60 not out from 34 deliveries.

Australia rested skipper Michael Clarke, opener David Warner and injured vice-captain Shane Watson while veteran Mike Hussey has been dumped after announcing this will be his final international season.

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It was the first time since 1986 Australia have fielded a one-day side with at least three debutants, prompting criticism that it was a "B team".

"To get three figures on debut is a great feeling and one I'll never forget," an elated Hughes, 24, told the Nine Network.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene slammed his bowlers' efforts.

"At times we lost the plot. We didn't build pressure enough, a lot of four balls from a couple of our bowlers," he said.

The skipper said wicketkeeper-batsman Chandimal had suffered a hamstring injury and his fitness would be assessed on Saturday.

"Hopefully it's not too bad. Luckily we have another reserve wicketkeeper (uncapped 22-year-old Kushal Perera)," he said.

It's another cruel blow for the injury-hit tourists who already have wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene (fractured thumb) and star batsman and back-up gloveman Kumar Sangakkara (broken finger) on the sidelines.

The second match in the five-game series is on Sunday in Adelaide.

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Radwanska crushes Cilbulkova in final

Flawless victory ... Agnieszka Radwanska wins the Sydney International in style. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

No woman will head into the Australian Open in better form than Agnieszka Radwanska.

At least on paper, after the Polish world No.4 collected her second straight WTA title in devastating style at the Sydney International.

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A week after winning the title in Auckland, Radwanska lived up to her billing as top seed in Sydney with a 6-0 6-0 demolition of Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova in Friday night's final.

It was a performance certain to put the likes of Victoria Azarenka, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova on notice just two days out from the Open.

And it completed a remarkable preparation for the 23-year-old, whose dream start to 2013 has included two titles and nine straight wins without a set dropped.

"It's been an amazing two weeks," Radwanska said.

While world No.15 Cibulkova had proved somewhat of a giant-killer in a surprise run to the final, she proved no match for Radwanska in a ruthless display.

"I didn't expect that (score) at all," a sympathetic Radwanska said.

"She's also a top player I saw her play the whole week, she really had some great wins.

"But this is tennis, this is sport, sometimes things happen like that.

"Of course I feel bad, it was the final and it's always supposed to be a tight, long match.

"She didn't deserve that score, definitely not."

It was Radwanska's 12th career title and a breakthrough grand slam is now firmly in her sights after finishing runner-up to Williams at Wimbledon last year.

"Now wherever I go I always believe that I can win it and I think Melbourne is also that kind of tournament," said Radwanska, who faces Australian qualifier Bojana Bobusic in the opening round.

"I think being top 10, top five already for a couple of years, I think it means that I can also win a grand slam."

While the first set was more competitive than the score suggested, Radwanska constantly frustrated Cibulkova, countering the Slovakian's aggression and power with patience and precision.

The second set seemingly couldn't end soon enough for Cibulkova, with Radwanska racing to victory in just under an hour in the most one-sided women's final in the tournament's history.

Cibulkova was visibly gutted late in the match and apologised for her performance during the on-court presentation.

But she will still take plenty of encouragement from her performance this week after beating second-seeded Angelique Kerber, third seed Sara Errani and 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova en-route to the final.

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Inter claim Balotelli option

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Dibs ... Inter Milan expect first pick should Mario Balotelli leave Manchester City. Source: Sharon Latham / AAP

Inter Milan have stated that if Mario Balotelli leaves Manchester City, they have first option to take him back to the San Siro.

Balotelli's future is far from certain with many reports claiming that a move to Italy could happen this month.

Inter have been linked with a bid to take him back to the club, but city rivals AC Milan are regarded as favourites whilst Italian champions Juventus are also believed to have an interest.

But Inter believe they are in pole position as they have first refusal on the player.

"The first refusal right exists," sporting director Piero Ausilio told Italian magazine Panorama.

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Will Super Mario stay at Manchester City?

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"We will decide whether to exercise it or not at a time when City decides to sell."

Asked how Balotelli would fit into the side, he added: "Technically, Balotelli can fit alongside any striker."

It is understood the clause was inserted by Inter when they sold Balotelli to Manchester City in August 2010.

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11679/8389863/Mario-Balotelli-s-former-club-Inter-Milan-say-they-have-first-option-on-Man-City-star

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Aussies rate themselves: Sinfield

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Golden Boot controversy ... Kevin Sinfield hits out at his critics. Source:AAP

Even Kevin Sinfield was surprised to win rugby league's unofficial prize for the world's best player - the Golden Boot.

However, the Leeds champion dismissed his Australian critics who believe NRL stars Melbourne's Cameron Smith and Canterbury's Dally M Medallist Ben Barba were better placed to win the award, with Sinfield claiming Aussies "rate themselves very highly''.

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Sinfield, 32, looked set to go a long way to silencing the cynics when he led English Super League champions Leeds out against a star-studded Melbourne Storm in the upcoming World Club Challenge.

But the backlash over the England captain ousting the stars of the NRL does not look like going away soon after the Englishman's response.

"The Australians probably think the NRL competition is far superior to Super League,'' he told BBC Sport.

"Whether they rate me or not I am not sure, but with a lot of the Australians they rate themselves very highly.

"I am not bothered or interested in what they say. If they want to have a crack then they can fire away.''

Sinfield became the fourth Englishman to claim the Golden Boot, and the first since Andy Farrell in 2004.

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International team-mate Sam Burgess defends Sinfield. Read more.

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"I am surprised to win it and I feel very fortunate,'' Sinfield told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"I don't pick the award. Like everything, people have an opinion.

"When do you ever have a 100 per cent winner?''

Back in pre-season training with Leeds, Sinfield will no doubt be looking to get the last laugh in the World Club Challenge (WCC) at home ground Headingley on February 22.

Sinfield led Leeds to a 26-12 triumph over Manly at last year's WCC, sparking a big year for the 10-year Rhinos skipper.

He overcame a head knock to lead the Rhinos to their sixth Super League title in nine years while also collecting the man of the match award.

Sinfield also took Leeds to the Challenge Cup final at Wembley, which they lost to Warrington.

However, eyebrows were raised over Sinfield's international efforts last year, which only featured Tests against France and Wales.

"If people are not happy about it, it is not my problem,'' Sinfield said.

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Video: Richardson on a mission

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Kaner Richardson ... eventually gets the wicket of Shaun Marsh. Source: Simon Cross / News Limited

Kane Richardson has been one of the success stories of the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash in 2012/13 and he was the centre of the action again when Johan Botha threw him the ball to try to stop a rampant Shaun Marsh in the 19th over.

While Richardson eventually did the job, dismissing Marsh for 79 but he didn't have it all his own way in an over that had everything.

The bowler got the honours from the first delivery after bowling a rare dot ball during the innings of Marsh.

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But after that the in-form batsman took control - first hitting a boundary through the covers, before teeing off and hitting the third ball of the over over the bowlers head for six.

He followed that up by giving a full toss what it deserved - again dispatching it for four through the covers.

But Richardson had the last laugh when Marsh scooped his beautifully pitched yorker straight to Nathan Lyon at mid off.

Wicketkeeper Tom Triffitt came in to face the last ball of the over, but it wasn't a long stay as Richardson got a yorker to tail back between his legs and skittle him for a globe.

Click on the video at the top to see the all-action over in full!

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Tomic through to Sydney semi-finals

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Ominous ... Bernard Tomic is looming as a dangerman at the Australian Open. Source:AFP

Bernard Tomic's new-found steel has thrust the reformed youngster into his second ATP Tour semi-final at the Sydney International.

Tomic battled back doggedly from a set down to defeat defending champion Jarkko Nieminen 6-7 (8-6) 6-4 6-2 to move to within two victories of a long-awaited maiden tour title.

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The 20-year-old will take on Italian third seed Andreas Seppi, one of his three victims at last week's Hopman Cup in Perth, for a place in Saturday's twilight final at Olympic Park.

"I'm ready to go for tomorrow's semi-final. I'm really confident," Tomic said.

"I'm going to do everything I can to win. To get the chance to play my first tour-event final and to do it in Australia is going to be unbelievable."

Tomic's only other tour semi-final ended in defeat against Andy Murray last January in Brisbane.

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Despite being below his best against the crafty left-handed Nieminen, Tomic will be a warm favourite to progress to the title match with a seventh straight win this summer.

The 2011 Wimbledon quarter-finalist now boasts 17 victories from his past 19 matches in Australia, an imposing record ahead of his home grand slam beginning in Melbourne on Monday.

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But his latest triumph was hard-earned.

"I was happy with myself to stay in there," Tomic said.

"Early in that second set, I felt like he was going for shots and was relaxing and for me to stay in there til that 3-all point was really big.

"After I won that second set, I freed up and played better tennis."

Tomic fought hard to recover from 5-2 down in the opening set, only to blow his own 5-2 advantage in the tiebreaker.

He had two set points at 6-4 and wasted his best chance on his own service when he overcooked a routine forehand.

Heartened by the reprieve, Nieminen continued to attack and was rewarded with the first set.

"I was very concerned after that first set," Tomic said.

Living on the edge, Tomic grabbed the sole break of the second set late on when Nieminen faltered trying to stay in it at 4-5 down.

The Finn's poor service game ended quickly when he put two balls in the net to allow Tomic back on level terms.

Despite his experience, Nieminen has has converted only two of his 12 finals into titles and it showed as the left-hander capitulated in the deciding set.

He surrendered his second service game of the set and, rather embarrassingly, the one-time world No.13 shanked his second serve on match point.

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Fox Sports tennis expert Adam Peacock previews the 2013 Australian Open

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Earlier, big-serving South African Kevin Anderson and Frenchman Julien Benneteau, last year's runner-up to Nieminen, booked their places in Friday's semi-finals.

Anderson downed Uzbek Denis Istomin 6-4 6-3, while Benneteau eliminated American qualifier Ryan Harrison 6-4 6-2.

Benneteau, a journeyman who has spent 13 years on tour without claiming a singles title, had a double win on Thursday.

With world No.13 Isner withdrawing from the Open with a knee injury, the 35th-ranked Benneteau was elevated to the 32nd and last seeding for Friday's draw in Melbourne.

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Marsh leads Scorchers to home semi

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Shaun Marsh ... was a match winner again for the Scorchers. Source: Daniel Wilkins / News Limited

Shaun Marsh and his Perth Scorchers went on a record run spree to crush the Adelaide Strikers by 98 runs on Thursday night and earn a Big Bash League home semi-final.

T20 - Adelaide Oval

10 January 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

Strikers 1st Innings

B. Young	9	12	0	0	75
S. Tait	2	3	0	0	66.67
A. Thomas	3.3	0	14	3	4.00

Marsh smacked 79 from 60 balls to become the tournament's top run-scorer as Perth amassed 4-189 a record high score in this summer's Twenty20 series.

The Strikers then crashed to 91 all out in 18.3 overs in a woeful run chase to end their season in front of a sell-out 17,000-strong crowd at Adelaide Oval.

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The win enabled Perth to snatch second spot from the Melbourne Stars and book a home semi-final next Wednesday night, while Adelaide's net run rate took such a hit that no result between Brisbane Heat and the Hobart Hurricanes on Saturday night will squeeze them into the semi-finals.

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Adelaide Strikers coach Darren Berry described his side's performance as "a shocker".

"In all facets, we got belted," Berry said.

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Marsh smashed eight fours and two sixes to top the run-scoring list ahead of Melbourne Renegades skipper Aaron Finch (309 runs), whose team will host a semi-final next Tuesday night.

Marsh and Herschelle Gibbs (54 from 34 balls) built a perfect platform for the Scorchers with a 95-run opening stand from 12.1 overs.

Scorchers captain Simon Katich said Marsh and Gibbs's opening stand set up the win for the visitors.

"It was a brilliant performance with the bat and then the boys did exactly what we wanted with the ball," he said.

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In the process, they took down Adelaide's Test spinner Nathan Lyon, whose only over cost 17 runs and included three consecutive fours to Marsh.

The in-form lefthander was dismissed in the penultimate over as Adam Voges (35 from 18 balls) continued the plundering of Adelaide's bowlers.

The Strikers' run chase was cruelled by early wickets, 2-5 after eight balls with Michael Klinger (0) and Travis Head (4) out.

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Tim Ludemann (11), Nathan Reardon (0) and Callum Ferguson (13) soon followed and Adelaide were a hopeless 5-39 in the ninth over, requiring a run rate approaching 13 runs an over to win.

Scorchers paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile dismissed four batsmen yet curiously finished with 3-12.

Coulter-Nile had Kane Richardson, yet to score, out hit wicket but Perth skipper Katich called the batsman back to the crease.

Katich explained that the bizarre chain of events happened because no Scorchers players appealed.

"The ruling was we had to appeal and none of us did so we did the right thing and brought him back," he said.

"We noticed the stumps light up but no one really knew what had happened."

Richardson finished with 20, the highest score for the Strikers.

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Video: Hales hits biggest six of BBL

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Hale-storm ... Alex Hales smashed the two biggest sixes of the Big Bash season. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Have you heard much about Alex Hales?

T20 - Sydney Cricket Ground

9 January 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

Sixers 1st Innings

B. Lee	10	11	1	0	90.91
L. Feldman	2	2	0	0	100
W. Sheridan	4	0	28	3	7.00

Not many Aussie cricket fans had before Wednesday night, but that is all set to change after the young Englishman smashed an incredible 89 runs off 52 balls for Melbourne Renegades against Sydney Sixers in their KFC T20 Big Bash League clash at the SCG.

Incredibly, Hales only arrived in Australia the morning of the match after being flown in as a replacement for the injured Marlon Samuels.

The 24-year-old made his international debut in England's T20 series against India in 2011 and has gone on to establish himself in that side, but on Wednesday night's evidence, he could be a future Ashes foe for Australia.

Hales more than made up for the absence of Aaron Finch, hitting an incredible eight sixes and five fours.

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Click on the video at the top of the page to watch Hales hit four sixes off one Steve O'Keefe over, or click on the video at the bottom of the page to watch all the sixes!

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But here's the kicker - he now holds the record for the biggest six of the season, after smashing a ball from Steven O'Keefe a whopping 111m. Just for good measure, he hit the next ball out of the ground, although that 'only' travelled 109m.

Hales was ably supported by Ben Rohrer, with the Renegades' stand-in skipper hitting a well compiled 57 off 37 balls - but his efforts were completely overshadowed by the powerhitting from Hales.

The Renegades finished on 5-178 from their 20 overs, leaving the Sixers a near-impossible task of chasing that score down inside 12 overs in order to qualify for the semi-finals.

The home side ended up being bowled out off the last ball of the match for 149, ending their Big Bash campaign, while the Renegades wrapped up top spot on the ladder heading into the semi-finals.

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Asian Cup to give Australia respect

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Respect ... David Gallop is out to impress Asia in 2015. Source: Roslan Rahman / News Limited

Football Federation Australia (FFA) is confident a successfully staged Asian Cup can provide some vital political muscle to the organisation.

The FFA were caught well and truly offside in November when the Asian Football Confederation cut Australia's automatic qualifying spots for the Asian Champions League from two to just one.

The surprise move prompted calls from two-time A-League championship winning coach Ange Postecoglou to boycott the AFC qualifying process.

Regardless, the FFA is expected to have to work hard on and off the field to regain the lost spot.

FFA chief executive Gallop, who was only two weeks into his new role when Australia lost their second AFC automatic qualifying spot, said the 2015 Asian Cup would provide the opportunity to do just that.

"That loss of the Champions League spot took a lot of people by surprise and we need to do a lot of work to ensure our position in the AFC is recognised," Gallop said at an event to mark two years before the Asian Cup begins.

"We need to put ourselves in the position to ensure these sort of surprises don't happen again.

"It's a matter of allocation resources to the issue and it is one of our priorities at the moment."

Asian Cup Organising committee chief executive Michael Brown said he was confident Australia's hosting of the event would bring it closer to other countries in the region.

"We are working closely with the Asian Football Confederation to ensure Australia hosts a world-class event which celebrates football and continues Australia's reputation for sporting event excellence," Brown said.

"Our vision is to deliver a world-class event that celebrates Asia's rich football culture and leaves an enduring legacy for the game in Australia.

"This presents an outstanding opportunity for Australia to strengthen our cultural, social and economic ties with Asia, including some of our most important trading partners.

"The Federal Government's Asian Century White Paper acknowledged the power of sport to bridge language and cultural barriers and serve as a platform to build relationships.

"It confirms that events like the Asian Cup offer opportunities for Australia to build on our international reputation for delivering major sporting events, and to promote Australian tourism, trade and other interests in Asia."

Australia, Japan, North Korea and South Korea have qualified for the 2015 Asian Cup, with qualifying for the remaining spots to begin on February 6 in Jordan.

The final will be held at Sydney's ANZ Stadium with the Socceroos to play each of their three pool matches in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

The FFA are expecting expecting around 45,000 international visitors to come to Australia for the event and said that the 2011 event, in which Australia was defeated by Japan 1-0 in the final, was watched by 500 million people.

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