Aussies crash Kuwait 4-1 in Asian Cup opener

MELBOURNE, Jan 9 (AFP): Hosts Australia displayed impressive firepower to beat Kuwait 4-1 in their Asian Cup opener Friday after talisman Tim Cahill kick-started them following an early scare.

Massimo Luongo, Mile Jedinak and James Troisi were also on target for the Socceroos, who could have scored six or seven and were serenaded with a chorus of "Oles" by a sell-out crowd of 30,000 in Melbourne.

Kuwait had stunned Australia with a goal from Hussain Fadhel after just eight minutes, the big defender stooping to head in a corner and silence the home fans.

But Cahill relieved the tension on a wet and chilly evening by slamming home the equaliser in the 33rd minute after smart work down the right from Luongo. The 35-year-old has now scored at each of the last three Asian Cups.

Luongo put Australia in front moments before half-time with a superb header to give the home side a huge boost going into the break.

Skipper Jedinak stroked home a penalty in the 62nd minute, giving the Socceroos a two-goal cushion as they continued to press, playing with a swagger that was sorely missing as they managed just a single win in 11 matches last year.

Troisi poked home a fourth in stoppage time to cap a dominant performance.

"Obviously we got off to a disappointing start," Australia coach Ange Postecoglou told reporters. "Sometimes things don't go to plan but it's how you react.

"It was the right kind of reaction and eventually we overwhelmed them. The positives outweigh the negatives tonight and this will give us confidence for the next games."