Richard Michael
DeanoHarmoAsian Cup - Cahill Saves Socceroos with Late Goal
July 9th 2007 11:49
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Australia, participating in the Asian Cup football championships for the first time, were the hottest of favourites to defeat Oman in their first match at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok. But sadly for the Aussies, most of whom ply their trade during the season in the colder European climates, it wasn't only the favouritism that was hot. Temperatures in the high 30s with high humidity were sapping for the players who struggled to form any cohesive movement in that heat.
Into the second half, and the Omanis continued to attack, looking for a second goal which would surely be a knockout blow. But it didn't come, and Australian coach Graham Arnold made his move. Throwing caution to the wind, Arnold worked the subs bench to bring attacking strikers into the match.
Tim Cahill came on. He has had form in turning matches late in hot conditions - who will ever forget his 2 goals in the last 10 minutes that turned a likely 1-0 loss into a 3-1 win against Japan in the World Cup? But even this time, as the clock ran past 70 minutes, past 80 minutes, past 85 minutes, and the equaliser would not come.
The heavens opened, and the match finished in monsoonal downpour. The clock ticked over 90 minutes, and the sideline board showed 3 minutes of time added on remained. Marco Bresciano had a ping at goals, it deflected of an Omani defender straight to Tim Cahill. He shot, HE SCORED!!!!!!!!
Tim Cahill's injury-time heroics stopped an upset from happening in Bangkok, but there was no such escape in Hanoi for Gulf Cup holders United Arab Emirates. Vietnam's Huynh Quang Thanh and Le Cong Vinh both beat the UAE's offside trap to give the hosts a memorable 2-0 victory.
Australia 1 (Tim Cahill 90) drew Oman 1 (Badar Mubarak 32)
Group A Standings Thailand 1 (0), Iraq 1 (0), Australia 1 (0), Oman 1 (0).
Vietnam 2 (Huynh Quang Thanh 63, Le Cong Vinh 73) d United Arab Emirates 0
Group B Standings Vietnam 3 ( 2), Japan 0 (0), Qatar 0 (0), UAE 0 (-2).
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