Soccer-Socceroos bolstered by Beirut bounce back

SYDNEY, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Australia got a welcome boost

before they restart their World Cup qualifying campaign when a

Tim Cahill header put them on course for a 3-0 victory over

Lebanon in an international friendly late on Thursday.

The Beirut victory was the first in five matches for the

Socceroos, who need a win against Jordan in Amman next Tuesday

to keep Asian champions Japan in sight at the top of Group B in

the fourth round of Asian qualifying.

The Japanese are threatening to run away with the group

after taking seven points from their first three matches, five

clear of Australia and Iraq who both drew their opening two

encounters.

Australia ignored the disruption of the floodlight failure

which stopped the game four five minutes in the first half to

claim their first win since they beat Saudi Arabia in February.

Cahill, who missed the 3-1 friendly defeat to Scotland last

month, got them off the mark by leaping above his marker to head

home his 25th international goal in the 19th minute.

"It was important that we started strongly and we did that,"

goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who became the first Australian to

win 100 international caps in the match, told Fox TV.

"Having Timmy back was important too and gave us more of a

spring in our step."

Midfielder Matt McKay doubled the lead with his first

international goal four minutes later when his shot hit the

Lebanon goalkeeper and looped into the net.

Substitute Archie Thompson rounded out the victory with his

left foot after a defensive mistake two minutes from time to

give Holger Osieck's men the best possible preparation for their

match against Jordan.

"Particularly in the first 45 minutes there were some really

good elements that were very encouraging, individually and as a

team," German Osieck said.

"We had some good aspects and that gives me some confidence

for our game on Tuesday."

Schwarzer, who had little to do in his hundredth match for

his country, said securing a third successive appearance at the

World Cup finals for him and his country by finishing in the top

two of their group was more important than such milestones.

"For me, what would be best is qualifying for a World Cup,"

the 39-year-old said. "A hundred caps is nice but I want to

qualify for the World Cup."

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Patrick Johnston)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/soccer-socceroos-bolstered-beirut-bounce-back-031734230--sow.html

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