Australia secured a 3-1 win over Japan in the Group F opener on Monday. Tim Cahill was the star player who scored Australia's first ever World Cup goal in the World Cup finals. Cahill scored a goal in the 53rd minute when the Japan's goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi could not defend his right foot shot.

. He scored two goals in the last six minutes leading his team to a 3-1 win over Japan. He scored the first goal in the 84th minute. Then he scored the second goal in the 89th minute. John Aloisi scored the third goal in injury time. Shunsuke Nakamura scored the only goal for Japan in the 26th minute.

This was Australia's first World Cup win in the team's second appearance. Australia's last appearance was in 1974.