Australia demolish Qatar
Australia has produced a superb performance to demolish Qatar 4-0 at Brisbane Stadium tonight and head to the top of the Group A World Cup qualifying group.
Australia has produced a superb performance to demolish Qatar 4-0 at Brisbane Stadium tonight and head to the top of the Group A World Cup qualifying group.
A double from Brett Emerton and goals from Tim Cahill and Josh Kennedy sealed a comfortable win.
The match had to be delayed by half an hour after a torrential thunderstorm drenched Brisbane Stadium about an hour before kick-off. But with the rain easing and the puddles disappearing, the pitch by kick-off was damp but in terrific condition to play the match.
Pim Verbeek was a very pleased coach after the match.
“Two games; six points; five goals and none against; not too bad,” Verbeek said with a big smile after the game.
“We made it easy for ourselves; we did exactly what we had to do and score an early goal. The goals were fantastic and we controlled the game.
“We beat Qatar 4-0; what can I say,” he added.
Any tactics that Bruno Metsu had to stifle Australia-s attack for as long as possible was soon exploited and in a similar fashion to Melbourne, eight months earlier.
The height factor was again to the fore in the 9th minute, when Luke Wilkshire picked out an unmarked David Carney on the edge of the box. Carney headed on for Josh Kennedy, whose intelligent nod down to Cahill, was converted by an excellent finish from 15 metres.
That was soon 2-0 after 17 minutes, when after some brilliant passing by the Australians the ball was played long into the box. Cahill won the initial header and was cleared straight back to him by a Qatar defender and as Cahill was about to acrobatically volley home, he was nudged off the ball by Abdulla Obeid Koni.
The Saudi referee had no hesitation pointing to the spot and Emerton-s low shot proved too powerful for Abdul Aziz.
Minutes later Cahill was inches away from a third goal, after Qatar made a hash of back pass the ball coming out to Cahill and his volley was not far away.
Qatar-s first shot at goal came a few minutes later, but Quintana-s effort was well wide and high.
Qatar ended the first half positively though with a series of shots at goal, although they were all from distance and never really troubled Mark Schwarzer.
Their best chance didn't end with a shot at goal in the 42nd minute, but was the only moment when they managed to get in behind Australia-s defence. Magid-s cross skidding right across the face of goal.
Any hopes of a comeback for Qatar in the second half were squashed in the 59th minute, with a superb goal from Emerton, who finished a sweeping move that involved Scott McDonald and Kennedy on the left.
Kennedy was inches away from the fourth goal minutes later, with a header from Lucas Neill-s deft ball into the box.
But he managed to get his customary goal in the 76th minute, when Luke Wilkshire crossed into the middle of the box and Kennedy climbed highest to head into the vacant goal.
Quintana missed a golden opportunity to give Qatar a consolation goal late in the match, but somehow contrived to put his shot from 7 metres over the bar with absolutely nobody in front of him.
There was further good news for Verbeek and his squad, with Japan held to 1-1 draw at home by Uzbekistan, leaving Australia in sole lead of Group A.
Match Details
Australia 4 (Tim Cahill 9-, Brett Emerton 17- pen/59-, Joshua Kennedy 76-) Qatar 0
Australia line-up: Mark Schwarzer (gk); Lucas Neill, Craig Moore, Tim Cahill, Jason Culina, Brett Emerton (Jacob Burns 87-), Luke Wilkshire, Josh Kennedy, David Carney, Scott Chipperfield (Mile Sterjovski h/t), Scott McDonald (Brett Holman 69-) Subs not used: Mile Jedinak, Michael Petkovic (gk), Chris Coyne, Bruce Djite
Cautions: Nil
Referee: Ibrahim Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)