Verbeek praises special Cahill

Qantas Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has again praised Tim Cahill's special qualities after the Everton star bobbed up to score the only goal in the Asian Cup qualifier against Oman in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

Qantas Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has again praised Tim Cahill's special qualities after the Everton star bobbed up to score the only goal in the Asian Cup qualifier against Oman in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

Verbeek said that while the performance itself from both player and team wasn't ideal, again it was all about the finishing and that Cahill was one of the best at that in the business.

"Timmy is special of course, that's what we all know. Sometimes he's invisible in the field. But it was a great goal again, it was not an easy ball of course. I saw it on the replay," he said.

"He is so alert on balls like that. I think a lot of players were not expecting that ball anymore. He is always there at the right moment. It is not the first time in his career."

But Verbeek also singled out Scott Chipperfield for praise for setting up the winner. The veteran left back surged forward down the wing, beat his opponent and delivered a low cross which found its way to Cahill.

"We should not forget the action of Chippers on the left-hand side. It's nice to have a striker who can score goals, but you also need players who bring the strikers into scoring positions," he said.

Verbeek said that once Australia had broken down the Omani defence, which had provided stubborn resistance for the better part of 73 minutes, the game was as good as over.

"After the first goal, the game was finished. We were completely in control the moment the coach on the bench changed Luke Wilkshire to the midfield, and Brett Emerton to the right side. We were more in control in the second half." he said.

"I think we had more than enough chances to score more than one goal. Especially in the first 15 minutes of the first half. The first 15 minutes of the second half, we had more than enough chances to finish it off. They had one very big chance also, of course."

"We did what we had to do. We scored one goal more than the opponent. We have three points, we are back in the race."

Oman coach Claude Le Roy said the result was disappointing but praised his team's spirit.

"I'm very disappointed, but this team of Oman, we know we aren't the best team in the world, but this team has a fantastic spirit, with very loyal people," he said.

He promised a very interesting return leg when the two teams meet in Muscat in four weeks' time.

"Today, we are four points, they are four points. I tell you it will be a very interesting game on the 14th of November, you can be sure about that." he said.