AUSSIES BEAT JAPAN

AUSTRALIA OUTSMART JAPAN IN CUP OPENER!!
13 / 6 / 2006

THE Socceroos last night made soccer history as they won their first ever match in the FIFA World Cup Finals.

Tim Cahill will go down in World Cup folklore as the first Australian to score a World Cup Finals goal for his country. The Everton midfielder scored a magnificent brace that inspired Australia to a 3 - 1 opening win in Kaiserslautern.

The 3 - 1 win places Australia on top of its group with Brazil to meet Croatia tomorrow night (Australian time.)

Australian Coach Guus Hiddink masterminded the Socceroos big win by introducing Cahill off the bench in the 52nd minute. The tactics paid dividends for Hiddink with Cahill being involved in two of three Australian goals.

The nation errupted into celebration with Australia's never-say-die attitude dragging the team level, then into the lead over their tiring opponents, seemingly from a lost position.

AUSTRALIA 3 JAPAN 1
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