SYDNEY (10 Sept 2015) – Veteran superstar Tim Cahill has vowed no let up in his desire to continue contributing to the Socceroos’ cause after Australia’s leading international goalscorer added two more to his record tally as the AFC Asian Cup holders defeated Tajikistan 3-0 on Tuesday to top Group B in the 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
After a goalless first half at the Central Stadium UAE-based midfielder Mark Milligan broke the deadlock in the 57th minute before the evergreen Cahill took his international tally to 41 with goals in the 73rd minute and in stoppage time at the end of the second half.
“I want more and I really want to do well…I am not here to make up the numbers,” Cahill – who had reclaimed the captain’s armband after Socceroos’ skipper Mile Jedinak was ruled out through injury – told Fox Sports.
“I really want to do well and I want them [the Socceroos] to know this is a big opportunity for us as Australians to do something special for our country.
“I’m very proud [of scoring] … 41 goals for my country, when I get my chance I want to take it.”
Cahill admitted that the Tajiks made it difficult for the Socceroos in the opening 45 minutes before the more experienced Australia wore down their opponents after the interval by dominating possession and dictating the tempo of the game.
“I hardly touched the ball in the first half,” conceded the Shanghai Shenhua striker.
“In the second half we kept playing our football, playing the triangles and it would be a matter of time before they tired. And we got the goals.
“We came here to be ruthless and we really wanted to dominate the game. We really want to get as many points as soon as possible.”
In addition to holding Australia’s international goalscoring record, the 35-year-old also boasts a number of other milestones, including being the first from his country to score at the FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup finals.
But Cahill, whose club achievements including scoring the fastest ever goal in MLS history for New York Red Bulls, insists that when it comes to the national team, he is no ‘one-man band’.
“There are no egos in this team and everyone’s equal. That’s what the boss [Ange Postecoglou] has done, he’s made it a team.”
Postegoglou’s continental champions continue their joint-qualifying quest in Amman on October 10 when the Socceroos take on Jordan, who consolidated their second-place position in the Group B standings with a 4-0 win over Bangladesh on Tuesday.
SOURCE: www.the-afc.com
