India 0 - 4 Australia
Everton midfielder Tim Cahill carried his rich Premier League goalscoring form into the 2011 AFC Asian Cup with a brace in Australia’s convincing 4-0 victory over India.
Having already netted nine times for his club this season, Cahill scored twice for the Socceroos as they swept aside India in their Group C opener in a packed-out Al-Sadd Stadium in Qatar.
Australia got off to the perfect start, taking the lead after just 11 minutes. Brett Emerton looked was put through on the right and he sent a low cross into the six-yard box, where Cahill was lurking to bury the ball in the back of the net. Cahill showed his predator instinct in the box, ghosting between the India defenders to fire his side into the lead.
Australia should have been 2-0 up on 20 minutes when Tim Cahill headed home but he was adjudged offside by the match officials. However, replays suggest that Cahill was not in an offside position and the goal should have stood.
The Socceroos did not have to wait long for that elusive second goal and just four minutes later Harry Kewell drilled a low shot into the far corner of the Indian net.
The game was effectively over on the stroke of half-time when Brett Holman got his head on the end of an Emerton cross after some good build-up work.
On the hour mark, Tim Cahill netted Australia’s fourth with a trademark header after finding space in the Indian penalty area.
The Socceroos are among the favourites for the tournament and play their second group game against South Korea on Friday.