Aussie boys on target

Qantas Socceroo stars Tim Cahill, Scott McDonald and Brett Emerton were all on target over the weekend, following the international break.

Qantas Socceroo stars Tim Cahill, Scott McDonald and Brett Emerton were all on target over the weekend, following the international break.

Cahill was again at his devastating best with a double in Everton-s 7-1 thrashing of Sunderland, while Emerton scored his first Premier League goal of the season in Blackburn Rovers 2-2 draw with Fulham. McDonald made it 14 for the season to date, with the third of Celtic three goals against Aberdeen.

The other bright spot was the start given to Harry Kewell at Liverpool in the 3-0 win away at Newcastle United. Kewell played for almost an hour of the match, before being replaced. Mark Viduka played a full game, in a very disappointing Newcastle side.

Again though it was Cahill that hit the headlines, with two well-taken goals in the 7-1 rout of Sunderland. The first of his double came after just 17 minutes, with Everton already 1-0 up, the midfielder controlling the ball with his back to goal and swiveling and striking a clinical low shot into the back of the net. His second goal, Everton-s fourth, saw Cahill brilliantly bring down a long ball to his advantage, that took him past a defender and he easily placed his shot past the Sunderland keeper. He was replaced soon after.

Emerton, who has been a permanent fixture in Blackburn-s tremendous start to this season, leveled the scores in the 57th minute, when he turned and shot home through a sea of legs.

Meanwhile McDonald continued his goalscoring assault of the Scottish Premier League, capitalizing on an error by the Aberdeen keeper, who had spilt the Australian-s initial weak shot. McDonald was quick to pounce though and took the ball around the sprawled keeper and thumped home from seven yards out.

It was dark afternoon for Mark Schwarzer, as his Middlesbrough capitulated at home against Aston Villa, eventually losing 3-0; Lucas Neill was able to breathe a little easier, after he gave away an injury time penalty against Tottenham with the scores tied at one apiece. Thankfully Robert Green was up to the task and saved the spot kick.

In the Championship, Patrick Kisborbo and James Wesolowski each played a full game as Leicester City won 2-0 away at Bristol City; David Carney was replaced in the 58th minute, as Sheffield United drew 0-0 at home against Plymouth Argyle, while Richard Garcia came on in the 67th minute and helped Hull City to a 2-1 win away at Scunthorpe.

In Italy, Vince Grella played a full game as Torino drew 0-0 with his former club Empoli, but the news was not good for his good mate Marco Bresciano, who came on in the 61st minute, as Palermo crashed 5-0 away at Juventus.

Michael Beauchamp continues to play regularly for Nurnberg, who recorded a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund. Beauchamp was the only Aussie of the quartet at the club to be part of the win.

In Holland, Jason Culina made a return to the park, coming on as a 63rd minute substitute, as PSV Eindhoven won 4-1 away at Excelsior. Eddy Bosnar played a full game for SC Heracles Almelo in a 0-0 draw at home with VVV Venlo, while Luke Wilkshire played a full game for FC Twente as they drew 1-1 away at Sparta Rotterdam. Brett Holman remains injured for NEC Nijmegen.

Finally in Turkey, Nick Carle came on as a half time substitute, as Genclerbirligi drew 2-2 away at Gaziantepspor, while Mile Sterjovski was replaced in the 63rd minute, as Genclerbirligi OFTAS lost 1-0 at home against Besiktas.