Gritty Aussies still in race

– Tim Cahill scored twice, including the extra-time winner, as Australia kept their World Cup hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over Syria in the second leg of the Asian play-off yesterday.

The 3-2 aggregate victory sends the Socceroos into an intercontinental play-off in November against the fourth-placed team in North and Central America and Caribbean (Concacaf) qualifying.

Cahill scored Australia’s opener with a trademark header in the 13th minute but it was not until 96 minutes later that he kept alive his country’s hopes of a fourth successive appearance at the World Cup finals with his 50th international goal.

“I knew I was going to score, I didn’t touch the ball much but in the end I delivered,” said Cahill, who has played at the last three World Cups.

“That’s what I’ve done my whole life and I’ll continue to do it.”

Syria, who had to play all their “home” qualifiers in Malaysia because of the security situation in their war-torn nation, fought until the very end of the match but ultimately came up short in their bid for a maiden World Cup spot.

The visitors, without five firstchoice players through injury or suspension, had scored in the sixth minute to cancel out Australia’s away goal advantage from the 1-1 first-leg draw. – Reuters

Sydney