Tim Cahill scored his 42nd international goal as Australia turned on the sparkle to fuel their FIFA World Cup™ qualifying hopes with a 3-0 win over Kyrgyzstan in Canberra.
The Shanghai Shenhua-based Cahill scored the second goal for Australia just after half-time following a 40th-minute penalty by skipper Mile Jedinak and finished off by a 69th-minute own goal from defender Ildar Amirov. The Australians moved to within one point of inactive leaders Jordan in Group B and face Bangladesh in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The Socceroos turned on the razzle-dazzle with their midfield of Aaron Mooy, Massimo Luongo and substitute Tom Rogic dictating the play and setting up many scoring chances.
"We had a game plan and the boys stuck to it and maybe it could have been a little bit more at the end, but we take the victory and the three points most importantly," Jedinak said. "Our plan was to keep them under pressure, stay on them, don't sit back, stay on the front foot and we did that really, almost suffocated them."
Talisman Cahill went close early and struck the woodwork with a volley in the 15th minute. Mark Milligan then missed an open goal after goalkeeper Pavel Matiash beat out Nathan Burns fierce shot.
But Burns, who came off the bench for injured Tomi Juric (groin) in the 29th minute, was brought down on the edge of the Kyrgyz area moments later. Crystal Palace's Jedinak fired home the penalty to put Australia a goal up after 40 minutes and they had the Kyrgyzs under pressure for the remaining minutes to half-time.
The Socceroos jumped out of the blocks in the second half when Mooy putting Cahill clear and the former Everton star finished clinically across goalkeeper Matiash into the far corner. The contest was over for Kyrgyzstan when defender Ildar headed into his own net off a Mooy corner to put the home side three up with 20 minutes left.
The Socceroos could have scored more as Cahill was twice denied in the final minutes and goalkeeper Matiash made a couple of instinctive saves.