Cahill blast Australia past Japan and onto South Africa
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:23 pm
Socceroo Tim Cahill has blasted Australia past arch rivals Japan with two second half goals to lead his team to a historic 2-1 victory in front of 69,238 fans at the MCG.
The result means Australia finished qualified for the 2010 World Cup at the top of their group and maintained their unbeaten status for their campaign.
It was deja-vu for Cahill who scored the first two goals in Australia's World Cup finals history to spark a famous 3-1 comeback victory over Japan in Germany in 2006.
Japan opened the scoring from a corner kick via a Tulio Tanaka header in the 40th minute. Tanaka lost Lucas Neil in the box before leaping over Cahill and heading the ball past Schwarzer from close range.
Cahill levelled the scores in the 59th minute through a brilliant header. Cahill got on the end of a Vince Grella corner, out jumped his marker and placed the ball into the top right hand side of the net.
The Soccer talisman sealed the result with his second goal in the 76th minute, when a Nicky Carle corner kick from the right side floated over a pack of players in the box. As the Japanese defenders bundled several Australians to the ground, Cahill stayed on his feet, held off his marker and prodded the ball home from close range.
Asked after the match about his scoring record against Japan, Cahill would only speak about the Melbourne crowd, a snub to the sections of the media that fabricated a story this week about a non-existent night club incident involving Tim Cahill.
Both Cahill and the FFA are furious about the fabrication which reflects very poorly on the standards of journalism at several major media companies in Australia.
“I'd just like to thank the crowd, the lads, a great turnout in Melbourne, I'm so proud to be here, so proud to play tonight so I think the credit just goes to the crowd, you were brilliant,'' he said.
“This is a step forward for us, it's great to finish top of the group.''
The result means Australia finished qualified for the 2010 World Cup at the top of their group and maintained their unbeaten status for their campaign.
It was deja-vu for Cahill who scored the first two goals in Australia's World Cup finals history to spark a famous 3-1 comeback victory over Japan in Germany in 2006.
Japan opened the scoring from a corner kick via a Tulio Tanaka header in the 40th minute. Tanaka lost Lucas Neil in the box before leaping over Cahill and heading the ball past Schwarzer from close range.
Cahill levelled the scores in the 59th minute through a brilliant header. Cahill got on the end of a Vince Grella corner, out jumped his marker and placed the ball into the top right hand side of the net.
The Soccer talisman sealed the result with his second goal in the 76th minute, when a Nicky Carle corner kick from the right side floated over a pack of players in the box. As the Japanese defenders bundled several Australians to the ground, Cahill stayed on his feet, held off his marker and prodded the ball home from close range.
Asked after the match about his scoring record against Japan, Cahill would only speak about the Melbourne crowd, a snub to the sections of the media that fabricated a story this week about a non-existent night club incident involving Tim Cahill.
Both Cahill and the FFA are furious about the fabrication which reflects very poorly on the standards of journalism at several major media companies in Australia.
“I'd just like to thank the crowd, the lads, a great turnout in Melbourne, I'm so proud to be here, so proud to play tonight so I think the credit just goes to the crowd, you were brilliant,'' he said.
“This is a step forward for us, it's great to finish top of the group.''
, everytime he comes on i change the station, the guy is a wanker that criticises every team and every player, cockknocker
I hope we all love Les, I sure do 