Tim Cahill (L) and John Aloisi (R) Socceroo heroes
Today’s win against Japan was the first ever by the Socceroos in a World Cup. The equalizer by Tim Cahill was their first ever. The last 10 minutes saw the Socceroos spring back from a 1-0 deficit and outscore the Blues 3-1. A deficit that they should not have found themselves in, in the first place, after Mark Schwarzer was bumped off by a Japanese defender, trying to deflect Nakata’s free kick.
Leo Beenhakker made three lifesaving substitutions bringing in Tim Cahill, Josh Kennedy, and John Aloisi in the second half and all of them paid off, especially Tim Cahill, Everton’s medio and long a subject of controversy because of his injuries. Somewhere in the world David Moyes, Everton’s manager is eating his words, after stating that Cahill was not fit to play the World cup despite what the ‘witch doctors ‘ in Oz were saying. The Socceroos put behind 32 years of futility of not qualifying for the World Cup and a heartbreaking loss to Iran in their best chance in 1998.
The Socceroos are in a tough group that includes Brazil, the world champions; Japan, the Asian zone champions; and Croatia, the country that loves to surprise. So these three points and the goal differential are vital.