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Tim Cahill shines as Australia upset Japan in final ten minutes.
Australia's Socceroos showed the importance of playing every minute of every match as they came from 0-1 down to beat Japan 3-1, all three goals coming in the final ten minutes.
Australia's long 32 year wait to revisit Germany and the World Cup came to an end last night and it was skipper Mark Viduka who set the tone, shooting from an acute angle and following up on the rebound, both saved by Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi at the near post. With Japan building up their attacks, Australia pressed hard and fast on the Japanese with crosses flying in over their shorter Asian opponents. Marco Bresciano came closest with a shot over the bar.
On 25 minutes Viduka held the ball up perfectly for Bresciano once more, back heeling the ball across the edge of the 18 yard box for the midfielder to shoot. However once again Kawaguchi got down to save.
Controversy erupted however when Shunsuke Nakamura put a cross into the box which ended up in the back of the net. However it was clear that Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer was impeded by two Japanese attackers, being pushed out of the flight path of the ball. Australia immediatly protested but the Egyptian referee Essam Abd El Fatah allowed the goal to stand. Aussie coach Guus Hiddink even got upset when attempting to view a replay of the incident only for the 4th official to try and prevent him from seeing it.
Harry Kewell, who started the match, got on with business straight away however as he broke away towards the goal, firing just over the crossbar. However this would be the last real chance of the opening half. 1-0 to Japan at the break.
Tim Cahill was brought on in the 53rd minute for Bresciano in what would prove to be a game breaking move from Hiddink. Josh Kennedy (61st) and John Aloisi (75th) both also came on for Craig Moore and Luke Wilkshire respectively.
As the half wore on Australia became more dominant but couldn't convert their chances. Viduka drove a powerful shot from a free kick in the 69th minute but Kawaguchi got behind it to prevent the goal. Japan were tiring however and it seemed almost inevitable that something would come for Australia.
Not only did they manage to get on the board though, they managed it three times. In the 84th minute a long Lucas Neill throw-in was flicked into the penalty area. Kawaguchiflapped at the ball but couldn't clear it. The loose ball landed for Cahill who fired through a sea of legs to level the scores. On 89 minutes Cahill did it again as he was played the ball outside the penalty area. With a controling touch, he let a 20 yard bullet go, hitting Kawaguchi's right post, bouncing across to hit the inside of the left post and in.
At 2-1 Australia could have been forgiven to go defensive for the final four minutes to hold their lead, but Aloisi found some space and made a run, beating Yuichi Komano, placing a shot just inside the post. (92nd min)
It was the perfect start to the world cup for Australia. Securing their first ever win and scoring the first goals at the finals.
13 June, 2006 |
