Cahill Starts 2006 In Fine Style

Qantas Socceroo midfielder Tim Cahill ended the New Year weekend on a high, after notching a double in Everton’s 3-1 win over Charlton Athletic last night.

Qantas Socceroo midfielder Tim Cahill ended the New Year weekend on a high, after notching a double in Everton-s 3-1 win over Charlton Athletic last night. Cahill (pictured after scoring his first goal), fresh from scoring his first goal of the season in Saturday-s 1-0 win over Sunderland, grabbed goals either side of half time that moved Everton further away from the relegation zone. He was unlucky not to have had a hat-trick having one effort ruled out in the 75th minute for holding and then striking the post deep into injury time with a thunderous drive. His two goals, and three in total for the weekend, lifted the spirits of under-fire manager David Moyes, who sang the praises of Cahill after the game. It will have also warmed the heart of national team coach Guus Hiddink, who will want the likes of goalscoring midfielders like Cahill, Marco Bresciano and Harry Kewell to be getting amongst the goals in the lead up to the World Cup. Harry Kewell continues on his recovery, with another solid performance in Liverpool-s 2-2 draw away at Bolton Wanderers. After laying on the winner in Saturday-s 1-0 win over West Brom, Kewell played a full game, as Liverpool-s 10-match winning run in the Premiership came to end against Bolton. Australian teammates Stan Lazaridis and Josip Skoko came face to face at St Andrews Stadium, with Lazaridis- Birmingham City coming out on top 2-0. Lazaridis played a full game, while Skoko, who made a rare starting appearance in the Premiership for Wigan, was replaced at half time. Mark Schwarzer and Mark Viduka played full games for Middlesbrough, who conceded a last minute goal to north-east rivals Newcastle United, in a pulsating 2-2 draw. Lucas Neill played a full game, while Brett Emerton came midway through the second half, as Blackburn Rovers continued its recent impressive form with a 2-1 win at home against Portsmouth. After a rare start on Saturday for Fulham, Ahmad Elrich was not part of the squad that won 2-1 against Sunderland. Meanwhile it was a battle of the Aussies in the League Championship, with Tony Popovic playing a full game for Crystal Palace in their 2-0 win over Leicester City, who featured both Patrick Kisnorbo and Danny Tiatto. Tiatto on lasted 13 minutes in the match, coming off with a hamstring injury. In League One action, Qantas Socceroo Luke Wilkshire got himself amongst the goalscorers, as Bristol City won 3-0 against Walsall, a result that eased them four points clear of the relegation zone. The majority of European leagues were in recess over the Christmas/New Year period.