Tim Cahill equalled Australia’s national goalscoring record to give new coach Ange Postecoglou a winning start in a 1-0 win over Costa Rica in Sydney on Tuesday.
The New York Red Bulls forward scored with a header in the 69th minute to give a young experimental Socceroos team a deserved win over the 31st-ranked central Americans.
With his goal Cahill equalled Damian Mori’s all-time Socceroos goalscoring record of 29 goals.
It was Postecoglou’s first game in charge as national coach since German Holger Osieck was dumped following back-to-back 6-0 defeats to Brazil and France in September and October.
Lucas Neill became Australia’s longest-serving captain with his 61st cap, while Cahill played his 65th international for the Socceroos, who are preparing for next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil.