- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The new year got off to a tough start for some of Australia’s soccer stars, with Tim Cahill injured and Lucas Neill and Mark Schwarzer suffering English Premier League defeats.
Cahill failed to make an appearance in Everton’s 2-0 away win over Schwarzer’s Middlesbrough after suffering a knee injury.
The 28-year-old midfielder had been enjoying an impressive goal scoring run in recent weeks, notching up his ninth goal in 15 games last weekend against Premiership leaders Arsenal.
Cahill’s latest injury blow comes after he broke a bone in his foot in March and then aggravated it in a pre-season friendly against Werder Bremen in July, leaving him out of the Everton squad until late October.
The Sydney-raised midfielder’s presence was missed as Everton took on Middlesbrough in what was a scrappy affair marred by pelting rain.
Cahill’s fellow Socceroo star Schwarzer also had little joy after failing to stop fine shots by Andrew Johnson and James McFadden in the second half which sealed the Toffee’s win at the Riverside Stadium.
Everton manager David Moyes said he was pleased with his side’s win and elevation to fifth place in the Premiership given the absence of Cahill and Mikel Arteta, who served the first of a three-match ban.
“We’ve no Cahill, no (Joseph) Yobo or (Leon) Osman and Thomas Gravesen is injured,” Moyes said.
“We came here with just about no midfield. Our only recognised midfield players were Lee Carsley and Steven Pienaar.
“It shows the strength in depth and what we have got here. The players who came in were fantastic.”
But West Ham’s Australian captain Lucas Neill had little to celebrate as his side went down 2-0 to Arsenal.
Arsenal’s in-form Croatia international striker Eduardo stunned the Hammers, who beat Manchester United last weekend, by firing home a goal in the second minute.
The Gunners doubled their lead in the 18th minute when Emmanuel Adebayor scored from the most narrow of angles.
Neill nearly sparked drama in the second half when he appeared to have held back Eduardo at the far post after a cross from Justin Hoyte, but he escaped any disciplinary action.
In other matches, Manchester United beat Birmingham City 1-0, Chelsea won 2-1 against Fulham, Portsmouth enjoyed a 2-0 victory over Reading while Tottenham suffered a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.