Asian Cup: Australia coast to easy victory against India

DOHA - Australia coasted to an easy 4-0 victory against India in an Asian Cup Group C game Monday at the Al-Sadd Stadium.

Tim Cahill scored twice for the Australians, while Harry Kewell and Brett Holmann scored the others against the luckless Indians, who were making their first appearance at the showpiece of Asian football since 1984.

The match was a completely one-sided affair, in which Australia could easily have scored more than four goals they did, but for India goalkeeper Subrata Paul, who made some valiant saves.

Cahill opened the scoring in the 11th minute from close range after Brett Emerton found the Everton forward unmarked in front of the goal.

Cahill celebrated by rushing to the corner flag, slapping and punching it, before accepting the congratulations from his team-mates.

In the 25th minute, Luke Wilkshire played a pass to Kewell and when nobody came to close the Galatasary midfielder down, he unleashed a powerful shot from outside the area that gave Paul no chance.

Paul then pulled off two good saves in the space of three minutes, first denying Cahill with a fantastic one-handed save and then stopping a long-range effort from the Everton player by palming it over the bar.

The goalkeeper was beaten for the third time in the game in the second minute of first-half injury time when Emerton again crossed into the area and Brett Holman rose above the defence to head home.

Australia continued the second half very much like they had played the first and went forward in search of goals.

In the 65th minute, Cahill scored his second with a header after Wilkshire had played a free-kick into the area.

India, who enjoyed fanatical support throughout the game from most of the 9,700 spectators in the 15,000-seater stadium, had just one chance in the 90 minutes when Sunil Chhetri had a run on goal only to be stopped by a lunging tackle from Sasa Ognenovski.