Cahill our best ever, say Aussies

TIM Cahill's wonder strike was hailed as the goal of the tournament in Australia yesterday as the team bowed out of the World Cup with all guns blazing against the Netherlands.

Australians watched at home in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday as the Socceroos led the Dutch early in the second half in Porto Alegre before Holland scored twice to clinch a 3-2 victory.

But it was team talisman Cahill who dominated the headlines Down Under with his first-half strike that pundits labelled the best goal so far in Brazil.

"For four glorious second-half minutes it looked as if Australia might be on the verge of perhaps their greatest- ever World Cup result when Mile Jedinak's penalty added to Tim Cahill's first-half wonder strike to put them 2-1 up against the rampaging Netherlands," Sydney Morning Herald said.

"But the Dutch were able to gather themselves, draw level and finally see off the gallant challenge of their indefatigable opponents who ... gave a marvellous account of themselves."

Cahill scored his fifth World Cup finals goal, a spectacular volley, with the media calling the 34-year-old, playing at his third World Cup, Australia's greatest-ever player.

Australia will play Spain in their final game without Cahill after he picked up his second yellow card of the tournament.

"Tim Cahill has now scored more World Cup goals (5) than Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney combined (4)," tweeted one Australian fan.

"The last time we'll see Tim Cahill at a World Cup. Thank you, now without a shadow of a doubt, our greatest ever," another said. – AFP