Bad Oman For Australia
Posted by Jasper Reed in Australia, Competitions | 9 July 2007
The hunters have become the hunted.
Australia needed an injury time equalizer from substitute Tim Cahill in its opening Asian Cup game against Oman last night to avoid a shock defeat.
The Aussies, trailing from the 32nd minute to a Badar Mubarek goal, looked a shadow of the World Cup side from 12 months ago in the oppressive humidity and pouring rain. Far from sitting on their lead the Omani’s produced 3 golden chances to extend their lead in the second half, but were thwarted each time by keeper Mark Schwartzer.
Oman was to rue the missed chances, and their persistent time wasting lead to 4 minutes of added time. Australia upped the intensity in the final 10 minutes and when Mark Bresciano’s shot was parried in the 92nd minute, Cahill pounced to smack the ball home. It was Australia’s first goal in Asian Cup finals, the same player having recorded the green and gold’s inaugural World Cup final goal 12 months ago, also as a substitute.
Group A’s other game also finished 1-1, hosts Thailand equaling Iraq’s early penalty. In Group B outsider Vietnam caused an upset by downing Gulf Cup champions UAE 2-0.
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