Cahill magic sends Australia through

A moment of pure football magic sent Australia through to the semi-finals of the Asian Cup, with an unforgettable Tim Cahill bicycle kick helping the Socceroos defeat China 2-0 in Brisbane.

The Socceroos forward can already lay claim to a goal seen around the world, with his spectacular finish in the World Cup against The Netherlands one of the best on last year’s international stage.

Now he has another. In the 49th minute, with the scores locked at 0-0, Cahill set the game alight as he shed his defender, rocked back and sliced the overhead strike, off the outside of his boot no less, on the finest of angles past stunned Chinese keeper Wang Dalei.

It might well be one of the great Socceroo goals, or at least it’s bound to be one of the most replayed. Cahill wouldn’t stop there, adding a second in the 65th minute as he headed home a Jason Davidson cross to seal the win.

The result puts Ange Postecoglou’s side on course to face Japan in a semi-final in Newcastle, providing the Asian Cup champions see off the tricky United Arab Emirates in their quarter-final on Friday.

Cahill said his goal was a product of instinct as the ball floated into the box. He also said he was left slightly dazed after a head-clash with Chinese captain Zheng Zhi as they both went for the ball.

Chinese coach Alain Perrin said there may have been a cause for a foul as Zheng fell to the ground but Cahill said he just played to the whistle, even if the spectacular result remained a little fuzzy.

“I went to head the ball, I don’t know what happened. I just flipped in the air and I hit it instinctively. You play [to] the whistle and finish off the play. I think we were both in a little bit of a daze at the time,” Cahill said.

Postecoglou said the team worked hard to give Cahill quality service in the box and there was no reason he couldn’t rise to the challenge through the semi’s and beyond.

“He’s still very dangerous. We use his strengths and I’m sure Timmy would be the first to admit that there’s a lot of hard work to ensure he gets the delivery he needs. Who knows, the best may be ahead of him still.”

Captain Mile Jedinak was the biggest inclusion for the Socceroos as part of seven changes, returning from an ankle injury to take his place in the midfield in front of the new-look defensive quartet of Jason Davidson, Alex Wilkinson, Trent Sainsbury and Ivan Franjic.

Mark Bresciano joined Massimo Luongo in midfield in an attacking move from Postecoglou, who also recalled Mathew Leckie, Robbie Kruse and Cahill to the side.

Every man from the Socceroos camp said confidence remained high after the 1-0 defeat at the hands Korea, but the start reflected nerves from the edgy Australians.

China found space on the right all too easily, with Leckie forced to embark on a sprint to shut down an early raid, before Wu Lei opened them up down the middle, winning a free-kick outside the box to provide an early set piece chance.

Wu Lei was the constant danger. He found himself in clear room again after 14 minutes, putting Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan in a potential one-on-one, before Wilkinson chopped down the attacker with a brave sliding tackle.

There was little reprieve. With more turnovers from the Socceroos midfield, Wu Lei was off and running, his shot forcing a corner and a subsequent save from Ryan, who met Ji Xiang’s header to calm the storm for a fleeting moment.

A yellow card to Jedinak in the 20th minute was followed by China exploiting acres of space behind the Australian right flank, with Ji Xiang spearing the best Chinese chance of the half wide.

A wonderful turn down the left wing from Leckie would finally set the home side in motion. Bresciano manned a set piece and swung in a cross for Jedinak in the 25th minute, with the skipper’s header flashing into the side net to to awaken the crowd.

Leckie provided the spark. He smashed a shot from the edge of the box four minutes later that elicited a quality save from China’s Wang Dalei, while the Australians began to apply the heat on the way to dominating possession, with 78 per cent at the break.

Trent Sainsbury’s eyes lit up as he sailed into the box off the free-kick but his 35th minute header was too high. Even so, momentum had swung. China would retreat and try their luck on the break, but it was not to be their night.