Reuters - Australia came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 with a second-half double from Tim Cahill on Wednesday to finish top of Asian World Cup qualifying Group One.

Both countries had already reached the 2010 finals in South

Africa with their last qualifier, played out by second-string

teams, deciding who would take the plaudits in the group.

Cahill struck just before the hour and in the 77th minute

after Japan's Brazilian-born defender Tulio ended Australia's

seven-game streak of clean sheets with a header in the 40th.

The result left Australia on top of the group with 20

points, five more than Japan. They conceded only one goal in

eight matches and were unbeaten in their final round of

qualifying.

"I think it's a great statement to the rest of Asia and

probably the rest of the world that you can finish a campaign

like this five points ahead," Australia coach Pim Verbeek told

reporters.

"We did not lose one game. We got one goal (against us).

Can't have it all, but I think it's fantastic and I'm very proud

of the players."

On a cold evening in front of a crowd of more than 70,000 at

the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia pushed hard for an early

goal, with chances for midfielder Mile Sterjovski and Cahill

going begging in the opening minutes.

But it was the Blue Samurai who drew first blood five

minutes before the break, when Tulio soared above a defence

caught napping to head a corner kick from Kengo Nakamura into

the bottom right-hand side of the net.

Japan carried the momentum into the second half, with speedy

midfielder Daisuke Matsui proving a handful for the Australian

defence but they were unable to press the advantage.

Cahill turned the match in the 59th minute, however, leaping

above Tulio on the left side of the penalty box to head a

long-range Vince Grella free kick over keeper Seigo Narazaki.

His right leg then found a floating cross from Nicky Carle

in the 77th minute in almost the same spot, the volley putting

Australia 2-1 up and triggering thunderous cheers from home

fans.

"He's so dangerous in the penalty box ... It's fantastic for

the team to have a player like that, that you know he can always

do what he has to do -- score goals," Verbeek said.

Cahill's brace will have brought back painful memories for

Japan fans who saw the attacking midfielder score two late goals

to help Australia clinch a rousing 3-1 comeback victory in their

group match at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.