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Men's: AFC Asian Cup 2011 Finals - Group C
Australia eases past India 4:15pm (12:15pm AEDT), Monday 10 January, 2011  India 0 lost to Australia 4 (Tim Cahill 11', 64', Harry Kewell 24', Brett Holman 45'+2) 
In Australia's first game in the 2011 Mens Asian Cup in Qatar they defeated India 4-0 with goals by Tim Cahill (2), Harry Kewell, and Brett Holman.
Australia ranks currently 116 places higher than India, ie. in FIFA rankings, but in these tournaments a banana-skin in waiting if the wrong mental approach is taken by the higher ranked side. This wasn't the case but India played with enthusiasm and fair play, making it an enjoyable game to watch if not an exciting one.
The Socceroos looked rusty and relied on some long balls early but it was only a matter of time before the deadlock would be broken. Broken it was in the 11th minute when Brett Emerton on the right got behind the defence and squared a ball to Tim Cahill powering into the box - and he knocked it in. 0-1
The second came in the 24th minute through a sublime strike by Harry Kewell from 25m out - where he was free to get his shot in to the far post. 0-2
In the 31st minute Tim Cahill followed up a loose ball but his shot was palmed away. Three minutes later his half-volley was tipped over the bar by an enthusiastic and athletic Indian 'keeper Subrata Paul.
In the 39th minute a chance to India when a free-kick was on target but easily gathered by Mark Schwarzer. Steven Dias volleyed with on the right four minutes later.
In stoppage time of the first half the Australian extended their lead to three, when Brett Holman headed in a cross from the right by Brett Emerton, from close range giving Paul no chance. 0-3
The second half was slow to get going, and it was in the 58th minute Brett Emerton volleyed wide on the right across goal off a Jason Culina cross.
It was in the 63th minute that the fourth goal came - with Tim Cahill scoring making a brace with a trademark header off a free-kick by Luke Wilkshire from the right. 0-4
Three minutes later Dias blasted wide on the right, and 20 minutes later Chhatri had a good chance when he almost beat Sasa Ognenovski for the ball in the area but Schwarzer was there to clean up.
Australian coach Holger Osieck was happy with the win. “It is very important to get a good start in a tournament, that you find your rhythm, get your performance together after the preparation you never know where you stand, how things will be transferred,” he said. “From my point of view it was a good start. In the first-half, technically we played very well and it's always difficult to break down an opponent's defence when they sit but we showed a lot of discipline on the technical side when attacking. We scored three goals which was encouraging and to start with a 4-0 all in all is good and should give us confidence for the next games to come.”
Australia's group includes Korean Republic (South Korea) and Bahrain. In the other game the Korean Republic defeated Bahrain 2-1. The next Asian Cup game for the Socceroos is against South Korea.
2:15pm (12:15pm AEDT), Monday 10 January, 2011 Crowd: 9,783
MATCH STATS:
India
Coach: Bobby Houghton (UK)
Yellow Cards:
Nil Australia
Coach: Holger Osieck (Germany)
Yellow Cards:
Nil Referee: Ali Al Badwawi (UAE) 5/10
Best players: Pitch rating: 9/10 Game rating: 6/10 Match Report by BOTN, Stats by AFC
Disclaimer: The content of this report is the responsibility of the writer. Stats are either as recorded by the writer at the game, or as supplied - no responsibility can be taken for their compete accuracy although we do strive for that.
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