India 0-4 Australia

AFC – DOHA, Two goals from Tim Cahill saw Australia make a winning start to their 2011 AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ campaign with a 4-0 victory over India at Al Sadd Stadium on Monday.

Harry Kewell and Brett Holman also got on the score-sheet in a Group C encounter that Holger Osieck’s side dominated throughout in stark contrast to their Asian Cup debut four years ago, when Cahill’s stoppage-time equaliser scraped a 1-1 draw with Oman.

It took Australia just 11 minutes to break the deadlock. Brett Emerton collected the ball in acres of space down the right and advanced into the box unchallenged before his low cross picked out the onrushing Cahill and the Everton forward side-footed home with ease inside the six-yard box.

India looked to reply and NP Pradeep saw a long-range effort easily held by Mark Schwarzer before Climax Lawrence shoot horribly wide when he had time and space on the edge of the box.

Cahill had a header ruled out for offside and Kewell fired straight at keeper Subrata Paul from Holman’s lay-off before the Galatasaray midfielder doubled Australia’s advantage in the 25th minute with a fine effort.

Picking up Luke Wilkshire’s short pass, he turned and took a couple of steps before unleashing a swerving low drive with his left foot form 25 yards that found the far bottom corner beyond a diving Paul.

Cahill then somehow contrived to waste a golden opportunity for his second goal on the half-hour mark when a deflected shot fell into his path three yards out but with just the keeper to beat, his weak poke hit Paul and spun wide.

The India custodian then did well to tip Cahill’s dipping 25-yard snap effort over the bar after he had brought down a long diagonal ball on his chest with aplomb before Australia extended their lead in first-half stoppage time when Holman met Emerton’s cross ahead of Paul to nod in the third.

A slick Australia move ended with Cahill scuffing a shot wide of the far post nine minutes into the second period and Emerton was also off target as Australia continued to dominate.

Cahill eventually claimed his second and Australia’s fourth when he rose highest to meet a free-kick from the right and planted a header into the far corner. Kewell then almost grabbed his second but a curling shot was just the wrong side of the post.

The game petered out after that although Sunil Chettri threatened a late consolation for India but was unable to control a long ball over the top and Schwarzer came out to smother as Bob Houghton’s side were soundly beaten.