Super Socceroos smash Qatar
06/02/2008 9:41 PM
Paul Gough at Telstra Dome
strong performance at the 2006 World Cup.
Unfortunately the injury-prone striker limped off in the second half with what appeared to be an ankle injury, the only lowlight of a great night for the Socceroos.
Cahill then doubled the lead just eight minutes later with another powerful header from a Luke Wilkshire cross as the Qatar defence just had no answer to the height and strength of the Aussie attack.
It was Cahill's 13th goal in 28 appearances for Australia, continuing the Everton midfielder's amazing scoring record for the Socceroos.
As Qatar offered nothing up front - with their best attacker in Uruguayan-born Sebastian Quintana out suspended - Australia effectively sealed victory in the 33rd minute.
This time the goalscorer was midfielder Mark Bresciano, his tenth in 39 matches for Australia, as he ran onto a perfectly timed pass from McDonald inside the box and coolly slotted past Saqr.
And while the second half was more competitive as the Aussies not surprisingly began to tire - with Qatar striker Ali Afif forcing a good save out of Mark Schwarzer in the 60th minute three minutes after substitute Mesaad Ali wasted a glorious chance to score - the Socceroos still had plenty of chances to score again and always looked in control in what will be a huge confidence boost ahead of their next match - away to China on March 26.