Asian Cup: India 0 Australia 4

Australia took their first steps towards banishing their Asian Cup demons by overcoming India 4-0 in their opening group game on Monday.

The Socceroos’ first Asian Cup campaign four years ago drew criticism for what was perceived as an arrogant approach, beginning with a fortunate 1-1 draw with Oman and ending with a quarter-final exit at the hands of Japan.

Under doomed caretaker manager Graham Arnold then, Australia appeared as if they had learned some of the lessons from 2007 with a performance against India indicative of the 116 places between them on the FIFA rankings.

India, on the other hand, were making their first appearance in the competition since 1984. But the gulf in the scoreline could have been greater had it not been for the efforts of India goalkeeper Subrata Pal, who limited the damage to a double to Everton attacker Tim Cahill and single strikes from Harry Kewell and Brett Holman.

Socceroos coach Holger Osieck sprang few surprises on the teamsheet, injecting established stars Kewell, Cahill, Brett Emerton, Jason Culina and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer back into the side that drew 0-0 with the United Arab Emirates in Australia’s lone pre-tournament friendly.

It took 11 minutes for the old firm to combine for Australia’s first goal.

Emerton broke on the right and sent a pin-point pass across the goalmouth for Cahill to hit high and hard into the roof of the net.

While Emerton had appeared to be off-side when he received the ball from right-back Luke Wilkshire, there was no such question marks over Australia’s second goal.

Wilkshire’s cutback to Kewell found the Galatasaray forward in acres of space, and he hit a vintage left-foot strike from outside the box which left Subrata no chance.

The 2-0 scoreline reflected the control the Socceroos had wrested over the game, having overcome an early penchant for long balls – with David Carney the main offender – to instead put an emphasis on using their superior technical quality to break India down.

India had one of their best sights on goal when Steven Dias volleyed from distance, but Schwarzer easily had it covered.

And it was 3-0 in the shadows of half-time, when another Emerton cross was nodded home by a fast-arriving Brett Holman.

The cracks opening in India’s resolve had become crevasses and, with the scent of an easy kill in their nostrils, the Socceroos began the second half a picture of confidence.

Cahill and Emerton went close before the former clinched his double by rising unmarked to meet Wilkshire’s free-kick, burying a header past a despairing Subrata.

Subrata never threw in the towel and managed to keep Australia at bay for the remainder of the game, even with substitute striker Scott McDonald – in his 21st match for the Socceroos and still without a goal – hardly hiding his desperation to find the back of the net after his 71st-minute injection for Kewell.

Vocal to the point of fanatical at any foray into their side’s attacking half, India’s supporters almost had a consolation goal to celebrate when star striker Sunil Chhetri beat the off-side trap to run onto a ball inside the area in the 84th minute.

But a combination of defender Sasa Ognenovski’s presence and the awareness of shot-stopper Schwarzer snuffed out the chance, with Australia’s 4-0 win confirmed not long after.

Both sides are back in Group C action on Friday, with Australia to take on South Korea and India meeting Bahrain.