Home  »  Socceroos

Socceroos dominate Ireland

Brought to you by

13 August 2009 | 06:41 - AAP

You need to upgrade your Flash Player.

Tim Cahill's brace of goals has led Australia to a 3-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in an international soccer friendly in Limerick.


 

David Carney chimed in with a long-range goal just before the final whistle to consolidate the Socceroos' win at Thomond Park.

Cahill combined beautifully with Scott McDonald for his first, an international goal still eluding the Celtic striker after 14 appearances for his country.

A short time later, Cahill pounced on a loose ball after team-mate Rhys Williams' shot was saved to send the visitors to the break with a two-goal advantage.

McDonald would almost certainly have broken his scoring drought after 21 minutes had Shay Given spilled Patrick Kisnorbo's header, but the Ireland and Manchester City goalkeeper leapt desperately on the ball and held firm.

Moments later, Socceroos custodian Mark Schwarzer, standing in as captain for the club-less Lucas Neill, made a sharp save to deny Ireland skipper Robbie Keane, who beat Kisnorbo and drilled the ball at goal from close range.

Just after half an hour had elapsed, McDonald's Celtic team-mate Aiden McGeady beat Australian defender Jade North but fired over the crossbar.

Darron Gibson then blew an opportunity for Ireland to break the deadlock when his cross to striker Kevin Doyle was way off target.

Cahill made the breakthrough in the 38th minute with some help from McDonald as the pair took on five Irish defenders.

Cahill passed to McDonald, who in turn laid it off to the Everton star and the resulting shot from the edge of the box found the bottom left corner of the net.

Just before half-time, Cahill struck again.

When Williams' lively shot was stopped by Given, the ball went straight to Cahill, who sent it through the legs of Richard Dunne and the 'keeper from about 10m out for his 18th goal in 34 appearances for Australia.

With the English Premier League season set to get underway on Saturday, Everton manager David Moyes would have been pleased to see his key midfielder rested for the second half, replaced by Brett Holman.

Likewise, a busy schedule for Celtic, with their domestic campaign starting against Aberdeen this weekend followed by a tough Champions League final qualifying round tie with Arsenal on Tuesday, meant McDonald was rested after half-time.

He was replaced Nikita Rukavytsya, while Adrian Madaschi came on for Kisnorbo.

Neill, who remains without a club after his contract with West Ham expired at the end of the 2008-09 Premier League season, was not even on the bench, despite training with the Australian squad the previous day.

Socceroos manager Pim Verbeek made several more changes as the match drew to a close and Ireland counterpart Giovanni Trappatoni also rotated his players.

Keith Andrews, a 63rd-minute substitution for Gibson, almost pulled a goal back for Ireland in the closing stages, but his attempt hit the left post.

On the stroke of full-time, Carney shot from 30m past substitute goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.

top