Australia's Massimo Luongo named Asian Cup's most valuable player

Massimo Luongo was named the most valuable player at the 2015 Asian Cup after scoring the opening goal for Australia in Saturday’s final against South Korea at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium.

The 22-year-old midfielder capped a brilliant performance throughout the tournament when he scored in the 45th minute, blasting the ball home from 25 yards out.

Australia went on to win the match 2-1 after extra-time after Son Heung-min equalised for South Korea in stoppage time then James Troisi put the host nation back in front during extra-time.

Luongo, who plays for Swindon Town, made his international debut last year and was picked in the Australian squad for the World Cup but didn’t play a match.

But Luongo has since established himself as one of Australia’s most promising young players and forced his way into the starting line-up.

He scored a goal and was named man of the match in Australia’s opening game at the Asian Cup against Kuwait and picked up the same award in the semi-final win over United Arab Emirates.

Mat Ryan was the goalkeeper of tournament with United Arab Emirates’ striker Ali Mabkhout taking the golden boot award for the cup’s leading scorer, with a total of five goals.

Defender Trent Sainsbury picked up the man-of-the-match award in the final but one blot on the Socceroos’ copybook was the loss of luckless Robbie Kruse to injury.

Kruse, after missing last year’s World Cup because of a knee reconstruction, crumpled without contact in the 66th minute with what appeared a serious left Achilles injury. He was stretchered off, in tears.