Late Aussie strikes sink Japan 3-1

Cahill scored twice in dying minutes to lead his side to a shock win over Japan. Schedule | Teams | Interviews | Photos

Australia scored three goals in the final six minutes on Monday for a 3-1 win over Japan in Group F of the World Cup.

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Tim Cahill scored Australia's first ever World Cup goal in the 84th minute after the Japan goalkeeper failed to punch clear a cross. He added another in the 89th, and John Aloisi scored a third in injury time to seal Australia's first World Cup win in the team's second appearance.

Shunsuke Nakamura had given Japan the lead in the 26th minute with a cross that beat Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. Cahill, who came on in the 53rd minute, equalized for Australia when he picked up a loose ball and beat Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi with right foot shot.

Australia's only other trip to the World Cup was in 1974, when it failed to score a goal in losing to host West Germany and East Germany and drawing 0-0 with Chile.

Japan is in its third straight World Cup. Co-hosts in 2002, the Japanese lost 1-0 in the second round to eventual semifinalist Turkey.