Socceroos open Asian Cup with a 4-0 win

Subject: Socceroos open Asian Cup with a 4-0 win Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:42 am

Socceroos open Asian Cup with a 4-0 win
Having
negotiated their first Asian Cup challenge practically in cruise
control, the Socceroos acknowledge they must find a few more gears for
the key clash with fellow tournament heavyweights South Korea.
Australia
predictably outplayed 142nd-ranked India in their opening match at Al
Sadd Stadium on Monday, with Holger Osieck's side prevailing 4-0 thanks
to an inspired display from two-goal hero Tim Cahill.
While
a gallant India side put up decent fight in their return to top level
football, Australia were always in control with Harry Kewell and Brett
Holman also finding the back of the net to leave Osieck satisfied with
the start to the campaign.
Advertisement: Story continues below
But
there were also lessons to take away, with the players conceding they
were at times sloppy, lost concentration and lacked ruthlessness in
front of goal against inferior opposition.
South
Korea had a nervous 2-1 win over Bahrain in their opening match meaning
Friday's (Saturday morning AEDT) match has plenty riding on it, with a
win for either side likely securing top spot in Group C and an easier
passage in the knockout stages.
Ranked
40th in the world to Australia's 26th, the Koreans are sparked by
Manchester United striker Park Ji-Sung and fared better than the
Socceroos at last year's World Cup, reaching the round of 16 before
losing to Uruguay.
"It's
going to be a big test for us but if we're going to play the best
teams, we might as well play them early, and we'll see what happens,"
said Kewell, whose first-half 25m drive provided the pick of the goals.
"They're going to a very dangerous opponent."
While
some had predicted a cricket score against India, who last played at
the Asian Cup in 1984, a trademark Cahill header was Australia's only
goal in the second half after racking up three prior to the break.
"We
know the football can be better and should be better, but the most
important thing was getting the three points and not to concede goals,"
Holman said.
"I
think we were a bit sloppier in the second half, especially ... we let
our guard down a little bit and everybody in the group knows we'll
definitely have to be more alert against South Korea for the full 90
minutes."
Osieck
followed through on his promise to field his strongest line-up, but
opted to leave goal-less striker Scott McDonald on the bench in favour
of starting Kewell and Cahill up front.
The
Middlesbrough striker came on for the last 20 minutes without success,
while Matt McKay and Nathan Burns also saw minutes in the second half.
The
German coach appears set on allowing his best side to develop a rhythm
and it appears unlikely he will make any unforced chances for the match
against Korea.
"It's
very important to get a good start into a tournament, to find your
rhythm, get your performance and your players together in particular,"
Osieck said.
"From my point of view it was a good start."
Mile
Jedinak vindicated his selection in central midfield with a strong
showing while Sasa Ognenovski did what was required despite not being
overly convincing at centre back.
And
while Kewell, Holman and Brett Emerton were all impressive in attack,
none shone brighter than Cahill, who took his Socceroos goal tally to 24
to move within five of record holder Damien Mori.
"I feel fantastic this year and towards the end of last season and I want to keep building on it," Cahill said.

» Socceroos subs ready to step up
» Socceroos share the spoils with Korea
» Japan defeat Syria 2-1 in Asian Cup
» Beaten Saudi Arabia sent crashing from Asian Cup
» FIFA's Prince Ali urges unity in Asian football