'Roos wobble past Singapore

A brace from Mark Viduka plus a goal from Harry Kewell have been enough for a lacklustre Australia to defeat Singapore 3-0 in the Socceroos' final warm-up match for July's Asian Cup.

It was an unsure performance from the Australian team especially in defence, and the locals, who hit the woodwork twice, were unlucky not to get a goal after generating most of the decent chances in the first hour of the game.

Viduka netted with a header in the 52nd minute, while Kewell, who played the final 30 minutes, slotted a 76th-minute goal which flattered the Asian Cup favourites, as Singapore faded late in the game. The pair then combined for the final goal with Viduka heading home again in the final few minutes.

Australia began the match strongly with Viduka and Jason Culina spurning early chances as the visitors dominated possession. The Aussie skipper was causing all sorts of trouble for the Singaporean defenders, but went over the bar twice, and was cleared off the line in the 24th minute.

The plucky locals stuck to their task, and began to get rewards as the half wore on. Playing the long ball, they created space for their forwards and Indra Sahdan Daud looked the man most likely to get the ball past Mark Schwarzer.

While Indra's first couple of shots didn't trouble the Aussie keeper, he got his confidence up and should have put his team in front on 35 minutes. A defensive error by Lucas Neill saw Indra one-on-one with Schwarzer, and it took a clever save to prevent the home side from going in front.

All of a sudden, the Australian defence looked shaky, and Schwarzer looked less than assured, dropping a couple of easy balls. He then got the fright of his life as Indra, completely unmarked, charged onto a Shi Jia Yi corner only to hit the cross bar on 44 minutes.

Brett Holman, who had a few half chances in the first 45 minutes, then spurned another late on, and there was plenty of food for thought for Graham Arnold's men at the break.

Viduka's first goal for Australia since 2005 came as the tempo dropped early in the second half. It wasn't a clinical finish from the skipper. Instead he nodded at Culina's cross, and it bounced, hit the post and went in just before it could be cleared.

Almost immediately, Khairul Amri could have equalised. His long shot beat Schwarzer, but not the post, and from that point on the locals dropped their heads.

Kewell timed his arrival well, coming on as the Socceroos began to dominate. He had one chance excellently saved by Lionel Lewis, but the next one was too sharp for the Singapore keeper. It was a well-hit finish on Kewell's right after the Liverpool star had barged through the defence.

The final goal was by far the best of the night, but the Singaporean defenders were at little more than walking pace by the 88th minute. Kewell slipped past his marker down the left-hand side and found Viduka with a pin-point cross. It was an easy finish for Viduka, who now has as many international goals as Kewell (eight).

But despite the 3-0 result, there were a few worrying signs for Arnold. Patrick Kisnorbo, booked in the first half, struggled in the centre of defence and was subbed after 53 minutes, while Holman didn't seize his chance to press his case. However, after a tough week on the training track, the signs are there that the Aussies are on track for next Sunday's Asian Cup opener against Oman in Bangkok.

Singapore 0
Australia 3 (Viduka 52, 88, Kewell 76)