A freakish bicycle kick effort and a textbook header from talisman Tim Cahill saved the Socceroos’ blushes in Brisbane and sent them into the Asian Cup semi-finals.
Cahill, Australia’s highest-ever goal-scorer, added another peach to this collection with a breath-taking strike just after half-time against China.
With the scores locked at 0-0, Cahill jumped up to collect the ball with his right and send it past Chinese keeper Wang Dalei into the left corner.
Just 17 minutes later he did it again with one of his trademark, routine, done-a-million-times headers. 2-0 Australia and goodnight China.
With the moths circling and the rain tumbling down, conditions had been very different compared to the Socceroos’ last match in Brisbane.
Ange Postecoglou seven changes from the Korea game, with Cahill, Matthew Leckie, Robbie Kruse and a fit-again Mile Jedinak returning. Jason Davidson replaced Aziz Behich at left back, while Alex Wilkinson was in for the suspended Matt Spiranovic.
The biggest move was the starting selection of Mark Bresciano, instead of James Troisi, in the three-man midfield.
With amount of changes perhaps it was no surprise that Australia started slowly. With a big and very loud set of supporters behind them, China dominated early proceedings.
Wu Lei managed to get in behind the Socceroos’ defence on numerous times as Team Dragon used their pace and speed on their counter well.
Australia struggled to hold on to the ball in a sluggish opening. An intervention from Wilkinson on 13 minutes, after a Jedinak error, was crucial. Two minutes later the skipper coughed up the ball again, releasing Lei who had a shot on goal. A minute after that and Jediank had a yellow for pulling back Ren Hang.
China had a great opportunity on 20 minutes but the shot from the cutback was just wide. The visitors’ game plan was working to a tee.
After 20 minutes the Socceroos began to get into the match more. Neat passing led to corner and soon after, from a free kick, Jedinak’s header was pushed away expertly by Wang Dalei.
Trent Sainsbury was called into action soon after to kill off a Chinese chance and then a fantastic run from Leckie saw his shot palmed away by Wang.
The Socceroos were eventually settling after some nervy moments. As half-time approached the stats showed the Socceroos had completed 266 to 72 total passes, but the Chinese defence had been well-structured and disciplined. It was relatively even, with Australia edging the half in clear-cut chances.
Both Jedinak and Bresciano looked off the pace, while Davidson’s touch was clumsy at times.
Then it was Cahill’s turn. Just three minutes into the second half and the New York Red Bull rescued Australia as he has done time and time and time and time and (you get the picture) time again in his amazing 11-year Socceroo career.
The goal helped finally kill all off the Aussies’ nerves and they surged forward, hunting for a second. Leckie won a free kick just outside the Chinese box on 53 minutes and soon after Kruse went on a jinking run.
The Chinese were on the back foot but they wouldn’t lie down. On 58 minutes they forced a good save out of a diving Mat Ryan. A minute later and Bresciano should have made it 2-0 but his shot was too high. On came Troisi for the veteran.
The Socceroos kept attacking and Wang Dalei stopped Cahill recording his second goal of the night, for that moment at least, with another tidy save. Team Dragon was just holding on.
But the former Premier League star would not be denied. On 64 minutes he rose with that majestic leap of his and powered a bullet header home. At 2-0 the Socceroos were flying and one game away from the Asian Cup final.
Cahill was auditioning for his own statue at Suncorp alongside Wally ‘The King’ Lewis. He has now scored 41 goals in 81 games for Australia, a fantastic goal-to-game ratio compared with any other player in the world.
With 22 minutes to go Nathan Burns replaced Leckie, with Postecoglou pushing for a third. China upped their game but Ryan was proving to be impenetrable in the Australian box.
The game really started to open up now, with attacking raids down both ends. But the Chinese looked just as likely to concede a third as to pull one back.
Massimo Luongo was there to make a brilliant diving tackle and Ryan would not be beaten. Mark Milligan replaced Cahill with 10 minutes left, the forward going off to a huge ovation.
Wang Dalei was there again to thwart another Socceroo shot. On 88 minutes he dived low to push away Milligan’s drive. But Team Dragon just couldn’t find a way back into the game.
Timmy ‘Terrific’ Cahill was Australia’s hero yet again and the Socceroos now head to Newcastle on the 27th for a likely semi-final match up with old foes Japan. That will be one hell of a game.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
newy
Guest
only the haters az
newy
Guest
true get rid of the slow start but ever game they will get better ,every win know is a bonus and looking forward to next world cup qualifiers with excitment not trepidation lol all good
newy
Guest
timmy is the best ever loved his interview world cup goal was a fluke as if lol last nights goals was all about the team true he is humble ,i also remember when everone said he was not a striker why play him there .socceroos are playing the way we all love even my hard core rugby league fans are loving it!! best thing for me was when we were 2 nil up and kept the ball and kept attacking i used to be nervous when we had a lead ,get the first 20 minutes sorted and we are on our way
The Barry
Roar Guru
67% possession. 29 shots 12 on target 2 goals 2 to Cahill It's all well and good Australia dominated, as we did against SK but no one could score other than TC. That's a pretty big save in my book.
TheVolley
Guest
What's with the perpetual half glass empty attitude towards the Socceroos? Didn't we dominate ALL 4 matches even though the Suncorp pitch is a disgrace which hindered the slick passing game, and suited teams that parked the bus and hit the ball long? Didn't we score TWO goals against a team that sat back and could have scored more? If the match was played in Melbourne or Sydney we would have seen the one touch passing which is the answer to defeating parked buses, but that was impossible on this pitch.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Are people surprised that our striker is scoring our goals?
Nelson
Guest
Well said, Waz. After weathering China's energetic start, Australia were in complete control of the match. Cahill didn't save anyone.
Josh
Guest
His goal against the Netherlands was out of this world, I often watch it over and over just to relive it.
Waz
Guest
I'm not sure "Cahill genius saves Soceroos again" does the team or this game justice, in fact I'm sure if doesn't. 67% of possession to Australia, twice as many chances, two goals to nil, pretty good performance really - why do I feel if the situation were reversed in China's favour I'd be reading how their coach got the "strategy right"?? All round I thought it was a pretty good performance even allowing for a slow start but there are a few areas to improve upon (a) we've got to take these guilt edge chances were creating, it cost us against Korea and will haunt us in the next two games if it continues (b) defensively were giving away too many chances, Japan et al will punish us (c) enough rotation now - pick your best XI and trust them Ange!
The Barry
Roar Guru
What I loved about his bicycle kick was the quick little look he had over his right shoulder while the ball was in the air. That was no fluke he planned it and placed it where he wanted it. Australia's greatest goal scorer with roughly 40 from 80 games - a remarkable scoring record for anyone but more so when you consider he has spent 2/3 of his career in midfield. Played in and scored in three World Cup finals and now three Asia Cup finals. First Australian to score in a World Cup finals. I read somewhere that he has been the first scorer in all three Asian Cup finals. His goals against Japan in 06, the Netherlands last year and his brace against China last night are unforgettable great moments in Australian sporting history. At all times he has been unfailingly humble, a loyal family man and very generous with his time and ability. To top it all off he's the best of the best - an Evertonian!!!! The debate about him being Australia's greatest footballer is redundant. The topic is now where he sits in the rank of Australia's greatest sportspeople. I hope that if he retires at the end if this tournament it's because he wants to and not because he feels he has to. Four more years Timmy!!!