Soccer: Australia come of age

Alarmed fans back in Japan watch the action from Kaiserslautern unfold on the big screen. Junko Kimura / Getty Images

KAISERSLAUTERN - Midfielder Tim Cahill will take the plaudits but it was a towering long-haired striker more suited to a surfboard than a soccer pitch who changed the course of Australia's World Cup campaign today.

Josh Kennedy, who stands 1.94 metres tall, went for the jugular.

The 23-year-old frightened the life out of Japan's defenders to such an extent that the Asian champions wilted in the Kaiserslautern heat, conceding three goals in the final seven minutes to lose their opening Group F clash 3-1.

Australia are more used to running up cricket-score victories against the likes of Vanuatu and Fiji than savouring World Cup victories.

A first finals win appeared remote until Kennedy threw his burly frame into a game in which the Socceroos, trailing to Shunsuke Nakamura's disputed opener, had been frustrated by the brilliance of Japan keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.

Captain Mark Viduka caused Japan problems but, with a clearly unfit Harry Kewell providing ineffective support, had been an isolated figure against their Asian Confederation rivals.

Kennedy, a journeyman player with the lesser lights of Germany since he was a teenager and a surprise inclusion in the squad, changed that.

Coach Guus Hiddink, who took South Korea to the 2002 semi-finals, enjoys a reputation as a master tactician but Kennedy's introduction on the hour, shortly after Cahill, appeared to be a last throw of the dice.

Kennedy, uncapped when Dutchman Hiddink named his World Cup squad, was soon doing what Kewell could not, providing the perfect foil for Viduka and allowing Cahill to find much-needed space behind the front pair.

Australia's luck turned.

Their furious protests at Japan's goal forgotten, they enjoyed their own good fortune when after some penalty area pinball the ball landed at Cahill's feet. The midfielder found the net with the goal went Japan's hopes.

A crestfallen Zico could only look on in disbelief as his side crumbled. The Brazilian coach has endured his share of criticism since his appointment in 2002 and an unconvincing World Cup qualifying campaign added to his detractors.

Having reached the last 16 as World Cup co-hosts four years ago, Japan now face a momentous task to reach the knockout stages again with world champions Brazil and Croatia looming in their remaining group games.

Japan had braced themselves for a gruelling physical battle and packed their midfield accordingly. It worked to an extent but they failed to build on their advantage.

Relying on the quick counter-attack, Zico's side flattered to deceive with some neat inter-passing breaking down time and time again to leave Australia keeper Mark Schwarzer untroubled.

The calls for his head will be reverberating around Tokyo once again