Mark Viduka headed in two second-half goals as Australia stepped up their preparations for their inaugural AFC Asian Cup appearance with a 3-0 win over Singapore on Saturday.

The Socceroos skipper struck the opener seven minutes after the break and added his second of the match two minutes from time to give the visitors victory in the final football game to be played at Singapore's National Stadium

Substitute Harry Kewell set-up Viduka's second and also found the net himself in the 76th minute to give his side a morale-boosting win eight days before they open their AFC Asian Cup campaign against Oman in Bangkok.

The home side missed out on qualification for the AFC Asian Cup but gave a good account of themselves in the opening half, nearly taking a shock lead after eight minutes when Shi Jiayi's free-kick from the right was fired over the crossbar by Indra Sahdan Daud from just six yards out.

Viduka showed his lack of match sharpness two minutes later when the ball bobbled to him in the six-yard box, but the Australia skipper failed to control the ball which bounced off his leg and went out for a goal kick.

The newly-signed Newcastle United striker was then played through on goal after 17 minutes but his attempted chip past advancing Singapore goalkeeper Lionel Lewis flew over the crossbar.

Lewis had little to do in the opening half thanks to excellent cover by the Singapore back four and it was his opposite number, Mark Schwarzer, who was the busier goalkeeper, denying Indra on 35 minutes when he was put clear on goal by Shahril Ishak's excellent through ball.

Schwarzer had to dive at full stretch to keep out another Indra attempt six minutes before the break, and the Singapore striker was only denied by the Australian woodwork a minute before the break when he met Jiayi's corner from the right with a flying header that rocked the crossbar.

Australia striker Brett Holman had his team's best chances of the first half, heading a Mark Bresciano cross wide five minutes before the break and firing off target on the stroke of half-time after Mile Sterjovski delivered a dangerous low cross from the right.

The Socceroos took the lead seven minutes after the break when Brett Emerton played the ball to the right flank to Jason Culina, who floated a cross into the centre and Viduka rose above the Singapore defence to send a looping a header over the outstretched arms of Lewis and just over the goalline despite Daniel Bennett's desperate attempt to hack the ball clear.

Khairul Amri almost hit back instantly for the hosts as he turned Jiayi's low cross past the post and striking the base of the left post with a fierce low shot three minutes later.

Bresciano very nearly made it 2-0 just before the hour mark when he burst through on the Singapore goal and saw his initial shot well saved by Lewis before putting his follow-up effort wide.

Kewell came on as a substitute for Bresciano with 24 minutes remaining and nearly got on the scoresheet four minutes later when he slalomed through the Singapore defence only to be denied by the feet of Lewis.

The Liverpool midfielder would find the net 14 minutes from time with a well-placed low shot from the edge of the area that went across Lewis and into the net.

Lewis then denied Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson with 11 minutes remaining, but the Singapore goalkeeper was left helpless two minutes from time when Kewell floated in a cross from the left that was easily headed home by Viduka to seal the victory from close range.


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