Marco van Basten had done it at the Euros in 1988. Robin van Persie had replicated it for Manchester United in 2013. But in Porto Alegre, it wasn’t a Dutchman scoring one of the World Cup’s greatest ever volleyed goals. It was our very own Tim Cahill.
His goal, as special as it was, might not have earned the Socceroos a crucial result against the Netherlands, as the 3-2 loss – alongside coinciding results – spelt the end of Australia’s World Cup campaign. But it gave the country and the football world an enduring image of the entertainment Ange Postecoglou’s side has brought to Brazil.
Australia had done little wrong in the opening 20 minutes and by no means deserved to be trailing through an Arjen Robben goal.
It was therefore a deserving reward for Postecoglou’s side when they equalised through one of the all-time great goals less than 60 seconds later.
Receiving Ryan McGowan’s lofted pass on the edge of the penalty area, Cahill watched the ball over his shoulder and struck a sumptuous first-time volley that crashed off the underside of the crossbar and in.
It was a goal that rocked Estadio Beira-Rio and gave the Australians an injection of confidence that they took into the remainder of the half.
The Socceroos continued to fight gallantly after the interval and energetic substitute Oliver Bozanic soon won a fortuitous penalty that was calmly tucked away by Mile Jedinak.
There was a sense of disbelief beginning to settle in. Were the Netherlands, a side who just a few days earlier had humiliated the reigning World and European champions Spain 5-1, really losing to the lowest ranked team at this World Cup?
They were. But not for long. Four minutes later and van Persie, played onside by Jason Davidson, shot powerfully past a helpless Mat Ryan.
At 2-2, the match was anyone’s for the taking. The plucky Australia had their chances, the best of which came when Tommy Oar crossed for the impressive Mathew Leckie, who opted to chest the ball, not head it, from close range. But, ultimately, the Netherlands had more quality and an incisive touch.
Substitute Memphis Depay rifled a 30-yard shot that wriggled past Ryan and into the bottom corner.
That settled the match. A tiring Australian side couldn’t find the extra legs required to muster one last defining chance and the Netherlands played out the remaining 20 minutes.
Just like they had against Chile, Australia had won the hearts and admirations of many World Cup supporters. Unfortunately, they again hadn’t won any points, as hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages ended in courageous circumstances.
Ex-@Everton star Tim Cahill also scored one of the goals of the tournament for Australia in Porto Alegre #WorldCuppic.twitter.com/yFnO4ytKlJ
— Premier League (@premierleague) June 18, 2014
Just as the Netherlands had hours earlier, Chile would soon seal their progression through to the round of 16 – remarkably at the expense of 2010 World Cup winners Spain with a 2-0 win at the Maracana.
The end of a truly incredible era – an era that had won the Spaniards Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 – began before the match, with the likes of Xavi and Gerard Pique omitted from Vicente del Bosque’s side.
It continued when Chile, backed by a vocal set of supporters, swarmed all over a slow, lethargic Spain team. Their high intensity football was too much for the Spaniards, who continually turned the ball over and made themselves vulnerable to lethal counter attacks.
Eduardo Vargas opened the scoring on 19 minutes, finishing off a flowing move involving Alexis Sanchez and Charles Aranguiz.
Aranguiz then had a goal of his own two minutes before half time, prodding past Iker Casillas after the Spanish ‘keeper had punched Sanchez’s free kick straight into his path.
As Spain’s players trudged off at the final whistle, there was a sense of irony that their World Cup dreams would end at a ground that many thought it would – just not in the final and not holding aloft a second consecutive World Cup trophy.
In the day’s final match, Croatia made amends following an opening day defeat to Brazil, thrashing a dour Cameroon side 4-0 in Manaus.
Ivica Olic opened the scoring before Cameroonian defender Alex Song was sent off for an off-the-ball incident. A second-half brace from Mario Mandzukic and a further goal to Ivan Perisic then completed the rout for the Croatians.
They’ll now meet Mexico in a winner-takes-all Group A clash next Tuesday’s morning.
- Tweet of the Day
Been some astonishing goals in this #WorldCup2014 – but that volley by @Tim_Cahill was van Basten-esque. Incredible!
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 18, 2014
- Quote of the Day
“You dream as a kid for these opportunities. At home in my garden I score like that everyday.”
– Tim Cahill
- Spat of the Day
A dark night for Cameroon was marred further by an incident involving defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto and striker Benjamin Moukandjo late in the match. After an argument had broken out between the pair, Assou-Ekotto appeared to head-butt his own teammate, leaving many – including Cameroon manager Volker Finke – stunned.
“It’s clear we have to find the reasons what’s going on because such behaviour is really disgusting,” Finke said. “It won’t do. It’s impossible.”
- Player of the Day
Following a superb performance in the opening group game, Australia’s Mathew Leckie is deserving of his fair share of praise coming out of this World Cup. The speedy winger was superb again in a 3-2 loss to the Netherlands, providing an endless supply of energy, industry and imagination down the flanks. At just 23, he’s one to watch for the future.
- Tomorrow’s Schedule
The second week of the World Cup begins with Group C favourites Colombia taking on fellow first-game winners Ivory Coast in Brasilia. The victor has the opportunity to book their passage into the round of 16.
A do-or-die Group D clash between Uruguay and England then follows, with star striker Luis Suarez set to return to boost the South Americans’ hopes.
The day finishes with Japan taking on Greece in Natal. It’s an important match, with the loser almost guaranteed to be on the first flight home.
Riley Beveridge is a third-year Bachelor of Sport Journalism student at La Trobe University and is the editor of upstart’s Sport and World Cup department. You can follow him on Twitter: @RileyBev.
