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A tense, even game, punctuated by five minutes of mayhem, finished 1-1 before the Socceroos went out on penalties. However, we may be seeing the beginnings of a great football rivalry.

A big crowd was in at the Nags Head for the quarter-final. Japan was in good form, Australia might be - it's hard to tell. The game overall was very even. Japan looked better organised, had slightly more possession and created more chances. But for all that, they lacked the killer punch and Australia stayed with them. 0-0 at half time.

The second half was more of the same. Until the 70th minute when the Aussies won a corner. A poor kick wasn't cleared and went straight across goal for Aloisi to tap in. Before we'd had time to wonder if Australia could close out the match, Japan equalised. A mis-kicked clearance from Milligan fell to Takahara whose turn and finish was quite brilliant. Two goals in a couple of minutes: 1-1. A few minutes later Vince Grella gets a controversial red card for a clash with Takahara. Grella's arm was high, but a red card seemed extreme.

Then things settled down again and normal service resumed. The remainder of the game was more tense, close football, although Japan clearly had the better of it. 1-1 at full-time and after extra-time, with Mark Schwarzer making a fantastic save in the final minute to keep Australia in it.

The shootout was a disaster. Kewell and Neill missed the first two - the exact opposite of a year and half ago. Japan nailed their first three, before a miss from Takahara gave us a glimmer of hope, which was quickly extinguished.