Australia V Japan - MCG June 17th

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

Did Cahill touch the 2nd Australian goal?

he will take as his, even thou i think it was an own goal like you!!


not bad effort.....

Djite didn't play again, wtf!!!

[Steve#4]

Cahill interview was absolute gold, stuck it up them.

Absolutely....the guy's a champ, fecken press trying to be the australian version of fleet street.

That Neil Breens a cock from the telecrap, you guys mighten have heard of him but he has been a germ on the East coast media for quite some time. Very protective of Rugby League and used Tim to illustrate the point that other codes are just as bad on the drink.....Poor form..

[swannsong]

Did Cahill touch the 2nd Australian goal?

It deflected of his aura !

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

June 17, 2009 10:30pm
TIM Cahill confirmed his status as Australian soccer's brightest star, scoring two goals as the Socceroos broke Japanese hearts with a 2-1 victory.

With the two Asian superpowers having already completed the serious business of booking their berths in next year's finals in South Africa, the clash was billed as a celebration.

But it was a party that threatened to fall flat for Australia until Cahill's double-strike in the second half.

For the Blue Samurai it was a return to the nightmare of Kaiserslautern, when Cahill scored the first two goals in Australia's famous 3-1 victory in their opening match of the 2006 World Cup finals.

The diminutive Everton superstar has made a marvellous career out of - literally - playing above himself.

And he did it again in the 59th minute, outjumping the much taller Japanese defenders to head home Vince Grella's free kick for the equaliser.

And Cahill was not finished yet.

Seventeen minutes later he powered into the box to sidefoot home the winner from a curling corning by Nick Carle.

It took his remarkable record to 16 goals in 33 internationals and ensured the crowd of 69,238 would go home happy.

Which was a scenario that looked unlikely at the halfway mark when Japan held a deserved 1-0 lead courtesy of a 40th minute goal from Brazilian-born striker Tulio Tanaka.

It was the first goal conceded by Australian `keeper Mark Schwarzer since the previous round of qualifying dating back more than a year and 710 minutes of play.

And it could have been worse, with skipper Lucas Neill forced into a goal-line clearance to prevent Keiji Tamada scoring in first-half injury time.

But as was the case last week against Bahrain in Sydney, it was a much-different Socceroos team which emerged after the break.

With Harry Kewell given a deserved rest after a long campaign and other stars such as Mark Bresciano and Brett Emerton also absent, the Socceroos needed one of their remaining big names to stand up.

And stand up Cahill did.

[SpursOnTheRise]

Australia are nothing without Cahill....

[agent_47]

I give my credits all to Japan, even Cahill saved the day but it was clear that Japan played better than Aus and since Japan had many key players out of the game.

I have a feeling Aus underestimated them during the first half, not until the second half that they started to pick up a bit, but overall, Japan dominated most of the game. Aus had the physical advantage, Cahill and the fact that Japan leave many key players out. However, I noticed some Japanese players did show good individual skills over the Aussies and that they were much more organised.

If you say Aus had good defence then I'll just say it was Japan's inability to convert them into goals which I think, was one of their disadvantages in this game.

[dj_no.1]

I give my credits all to Japan, even Cahill saved the day but it was clear that Japan played better than Aus and since Japan had many key players out of the game.

I have a feeling Aus underestimated them during the first half, not until the second half that they started to pick up a bit, but overall, Japan dominated most of the game. Aus had the physical advantage, Cahill and the fact that Japan leave many key players out. However, I noticed some Japanese players did show good individual skills over the Aussies and that they were much more organised.

If you say Aus had good defence then I'll just say it was Japan's inability to convert them into goals which I think, was one of their disadvantages in this game.

lol, easy tiger, and australia werent missing any key players? theres noway they dominated the game, are you wrecked, we own the japs!

[agent_47]

I give my credits all to Japan, even Cahill saved the day but it was clear that Japan played better than Aus and since Japan had many key players out of the game.

I have a feeling Aus underestimated them during the first half, not until the second half that they started to pick up a bit, but overall, Japan dominated most of the game. Aus had the physical advantage, Cahill and the fact that Japan leave many key players out. However, I noticed some Japanese players did show good individual skills over the Aussies and that they were much more organised.

If you say Aus had good defence then I'll just say it was Japan's inability to convert them into goals which I think, was one of their disadvantages in this game.

lol, easy tiger, and australia werent missing any key players? theres noway they dominated the game, are you wrecked, we own the japs!

Did you look at the list of players whom Japan was missing?

Even Italy beat USA the night before, their performance was still called rubbish. This means victory and how you play are different stories.

And is this your first time watching soccer? Matches like tonight's one doesn't mean anything since both countries have qualified already. You're the top of the group but it doesn't mean you'll do better at the cup, get it? After all, it's the cup which matters the most and if you keep playing like this in the future, it might be you getting owned by Japan and other Asian countries next time.

Actually, did you win the Asian Cup two years ago? Or maybe you didn't care about it but just to let you know, Aus went out of the quarter final stage and their opponent at that time was Japan.

[DOC]

only on penalties.. thought i might add that in..

[dj_no.1]

I give my credits all to Japan, even Cahill saved the day but it was clear that Japan played better than Aus and since Japan had many key players out of the game.

I have a feeling Aus underestimated them during the first half, not until the second half that they started to pick up a bit, but overall, Japan dominated most of the game. Aus had the physical advantage, Cahill and the fact that Japan leave many key players out. However, I noticed some Japanese players did show good individual skills over the Aussies and that they were much more organised.

If you say Aus had good defence then I'll just say it was Japan's inability to convert them into goals which I think, was one of their disadvantages in this game.

lol, easy tiger, and australia werent missing any key players? theres noway they dominated the game, are you wrecked, we own the japs!

Did you look at the list of players whom Japan was missing?

Even Italy beat USA the night before, their performance was still called rubbish. This means victory and how you play are different stories.

And is this your first time watching soccer? Matches like tonight's one doesn't mean anything since both countries have qualified already. You're the top of the group but it doesn't mean you'll do better at the cup, get it? After all, it's the cup which matters the most and if you keep playing like this in the future, it might be you getting owned by Japan and other Asian countries next time.

Actually, did you win the Asian Cup two years ago? Or maybe you didn't care about it but just to let you know, Aus went out of the quarter final stage and their opponent at that time was Japan.

sounds like we have a sore loser in the house lol, yeah first time ive ever watched a game lol, nice first post bagging australia, after going thru the qualifiers undefeated i cant see us getting owned by asian countries in the near future

[agent_47]

only on penalties.. thought i might add that in..

yeah, and so this is the point, you played well in minor matches doesn't mean you can win in big matches, especially the World Cup has always been very competitive.

[agent_47]

sounds like we have a sore loser in the house

Come back with points and reasons rather than just insults.

[agent_47]

sounds like we have a sore loser in the house lol, yeah first time ive ever watched a game lol, nice first post bagging australia, after going thru the qualifiers undefeated i cant see us getting owned by asian countries in the near future

Do you really think the performance you put up tonight was really that great? Without Cahill, what would you be? And sorry for bagging Aus, I don't go for any Asian teams but I have to say Japan was much more entertaining to watch than you.

[dj_no.1]

it wasnt a great game tonight but you cant be saying the japs dominated, general play was fairly even, japan just dont look that dangerous going forward, lucas neil and north were fairly comfortable tonight .

[agent_47]

it wasnt a great game tonight but you cant be saying the japs dominated, general play was fairly even, japan just dont look that dangerous going forward, lucas neil and north were fairly comfortable tonight .

Japan was dominating the ball most of the time and had many chances. As I said before, one of the weaknesses for Japan was their inability to convert into goals, but I still won't say they're not dangerous since they leave out many big names.

It will be great to see how these two teams will perform next year at the cup.

[BADA BING]

what was his first goal celebration all about

[blue moon]

still havnt really enjoyed an australian game for sometime, they can be quite frustrating. getting the results but no entertainment. wouldnt be winning too many supporters from rival codes i think. hopefully the friendlies are played with more adventure.

[Aldo Serena]

yeah, and so this is the point, you played well in minor matches doesn't mean you can win in big matches, especially the World Cup has always been very competitive.

Japan is a point of reference in regards to this... Appeared in three World Cups, only made the second round once (and that was in Japan).

[redmum]

still havnt really enjoyed an australian game for sometime, they can be quite frustrating. getting the results but no entertainment. wouldnt be winning too many supporters from rival codes i think. hopefully the friendlies are played with more adventure.

hmmmm...maybe they should go out there with dancing girls and do a bit of karaoke ......
Aren't they out there to kick goals and get points? Then they've done what they need to do.
Pim has said he is not going to be playing 'pretty football'...
the job is getting done...we are in the World Cup...and still people complain....

[blue moon]

still havnt really enjoyed an australian game for sometime, they can be quite frustrating. getting the results but no entertainment. wouldnt be winning too many supporters from rival codes i think. hopefully the friendlies are played with more adventure.

hmmmm...maybe they should go out there with dancing girls and do a bit of karaoke ......
Aren't they out there to kick goals and get points? Then they've done what they need to do.
Pim has said he is not going to be playing 'pretty football'...
the job is getting done...we are in the World Cup...and still people complain....

i said they are getting the results, but can you honesty say that they have been good to watch. there are many other team that can do both, get results and play football that is attractive, i just wish australia was one of them - that was my point. Just because they are through doesnt exempt them from criticism. compared to most other countries we are in the unusual position of having to attract a wider audience to do that we need to entertain and not through glitzs or glamour but putting on a good spectacle on the pitch. maybe the pressure is off now and they can do that.

[Knight7]

We make one World Cup in 34 years and now we "take it for granted" that we will qualify! Really, I enjoy watching Australia win and qualify, the entertain at all costs mentality is so Australian - AFL plenty of goals etc. I was in Qatar 0-0 and was delighted. Was at the MCG last night and really enjoyed the second half - in world terms was a massive crowd for what in essence was a friendly. The only way we will get close to going through to the next round of the World Cup is by playing our current style and if we do and get through again I will be delighted. Leave the nice Football to the AFL, lets enjoy winning games in the World Cup -The Italians have done it for decades

[FT9]

wat a game!!! had fairly decent seats but went and sat down on the fence where the corner flag was
cahill celebrated right infront of me twice!!! loved it got it on my fone as well ahaha
decent atmosphere, the crowd couldve been a bit more into the game tho....
but it was a great experience for my first national game

[Thryle 7]

wat a game!!! had fairly decent seats but went and sat down on the fence where the corner flag was
cahill celebrated right infront of me twice!!! loved it got it on my fone as well ahaha
decent atmosphere, the crowd couldve been a bit more into the game tho....
but it was a great experience for my first national game

wat do u mean?

[FT9]

crowd was a bit quiet throughout the game the mexican waves never got all the way around bar once
there was the aussie cheer squad getting into it but the rest of the ground was a bit quiet

[Knight7]

crowd was a bit quiet throughout the game the mexican waves never got all the way around bar once
there was the aussie cheer squad getting into it but the rest of the ground was a bit quiet

welcome to Australian Football