Australia's opening match of the Asian Cup in 2011 saw them come away with a convincing win on the scoreboard. Altough the Socceroos dominated general gameplay and possession their precision and dexterity was well below standard with many passes failing to find their intended target, several goal scoring opportunities missed, and lack of first touch ball-control on what many would consider to be a pristine pitch surface.
Australian coach Holger Osieck was pleased that his team did not receive any yellow cards or injuries during the match in which he refused to rest key players, even when the match result was beyond doubt at half time after Brett Hollman put Australia ahead 3-0
Tim Cahill snatched a well deserved double, and was unlucky not to be awarded a hatrick of goals after an incorrect decision by the linesman who had a dubious match. Harry Kewell also recorded a goal of his own after being given room outside the 18 yard box, striking the ball sweetly past the agile Indian goalkeeper.
The Indian team were well supported by the crowd and should be commended for their clean and fair play throughout the match, a well-known trait of Australia Football. The Socceroos sit nicely on top of Group C and await their next opponents South Korea in 4 days time for what should be one of the headline matches of the tournament.
