Cahill relishing pressure to keep scoring
Reuters - Monday 10 January 2011, 17:36
DOHA - Tim Cahill said he loved being
under pressure to score goals after his brace in Australia's 4-0
win over India at the Asian Cup on Monday lifted his record to
24 goals in 48 internationals.
"A lot of people expect me to score and it doesn't matter to
me if I am playing in midfield or up front, I just want to
deliver, and keep the goals coming," Cahill told reporters.
"It's a great feeling to score whoever you are playing
against, and I'm pleased I got two today, but I probably should
have got more," he said after Australia eased past India in
their opening Group C match.
Cahill, who plays as a marauding midfielder for his country
and club side Everton, has a fine scoring ratio of 122 goals in
460 matches in England, where he previously played for Millwall.
A large proportion of those have come with his head despite
his relatively small height of 5ft 8 inches (1.72 metres), and
his second against India illustrated just how devastating he can
be against taller defenders.
"It went my way but the most important thing today was that
we won against a side determined to keep the score down. A
victory like this builds confidence and that helps you win
titles in competitions like this," he said.
Bob Houghton, India's English coach, was pleased that his
side, making their first Asian Cup appearance for 27 years, kept
the score down to four.
"It was the first time we have played a team of that
standard in a competitive match and I am proud of the way my
players performed," he said.
"But Australia went offside in the buildup to the first
goal, and if we had held out and not conceded the third in the
last minute of the first half, then things might have been
different.
"Credit to Australia though, they are an excellent side, but
we will learn from this and hopefully get a better result
against Bahrain in our next match," Houghton added.