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After a campaign that saw plenty of highs and lows for the Asian Football Confederation's representatives, including famous wins and impressive goalscoring feats, the-AFC.com looks back at what those involved had to say.

With four teams across the men’s and women’s competitions reaching the knockout stage and two going all the way to the medal rounds, there was plenty for Asia to shout out about during this year’s Olympic football feast,

After a year without major international competitions, Asia’s chase for Olympic gold produced ecstasy, heartbreak, classic contests and exceptional individual performances.

Whether it was Sam Kerr’s record-breaking exploits for Australia, the emergence of Takefusa Kubo as the next Japanese superstar, the valiant efforts of Salem Al Dawsari and Wang Shuang or the new faces who emerged alongside them, the continent’s leading lights came to play.

Join the-AFC.com as we highlight and celebrate several of the continent’s standout individuals from the Tokyo Olympics football tournaments, and invite you to vote for the best performer of all.

Matheus Cunha took advantage of a defensive lapse to score in first-half stoppage time after Richarlison smashed a penalty over the crossbar for Brazil.

Spain equalised on the hour when Mikel Oyarzabal crashed home a thumping volley, but former Barcelona forward Malcom secured Brazil the title with his goal in the 108th minute.

Kaoru Mitoma scored with 12 minutes remaining to give Japan hope late in the game, but earlier goals via Sebastian Cordova’s penalty and headers from Johan Vasquez and Alexis Vega ensured the Mexicans had a big enough advantage to claim the bronze medal.

The loss means Japan’s wait for a second Olympic medal in the men’s tournament will extend for least another three years as Moriyasu sought to lead the country to a place on the podium for the first time since 1968.

Stina Blackstenius scored her team-best fifth goal of the tournament to give Sweden the lead, but Jessie Fleming's penalty in the second half sent the match to extra time and it finished 1-1 after 120 minutes.

The tournament hosts had been looking to claim the country’s first men’s football medal since winning bronze in 1968, but slipped to a defeat that means their run without claiming a place on the Olympic podium will continue for at least another three years.

Japan previously missed out on a bronze medal in 2012 when Takashi Sekizuka’s team were beaten by Korea Republic at the London Olympics and they were to taste similar disappointment on home soil as Moriyasu’s side were second-best for much of the game.

Chasing the nation’s first ever Olympic football medal, the Matildas’ sharp attacking performance was undermined by a series of defensive errors in a match that ultimately finished in a 4-3 win for the world champions.

Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd scored twice each to put the Americans 4-1 up just after half time, but goals from Caitlin Foord and Emily Gielnik brought Australia back into the contest after Sam Kerr had become the team’s all-time record goal scorer earlier in the match.

Australia’s Chris Beath will officiate the gold medal match alongside assistant referees Anton Shchetinin and George Lakrindis. The trio was also the match officials in the 2019 AFC Champions League Semi-final and Quarter-final.