For his first game in charge, new coach Pim Verbeek went for experience in his line-up and the decision paid off handsomely. A confident Australia had far too much for their visitors and really had the match won well before half-time.

The starting eleven (4-4-2) was as follows: Mark Schwarzer, Brett Emerton, Lucas Neill(c), Craig Moore, David Carney, Jason Culina, Mark Bresciano, Luke Wilkshire, Tim Cahill, Josh Kennedy and Scott McDonald.

The teams emerge to a great ovation from the Melbourne crowd and line up for the national anthems.

1. Scott McDonald and Timmy Cahill get proceedings underway for the Socceroos.

2. Overhit through ball from Qatar flies out harmlessly for an Australian goalkick.

3.Fabio Cesar free-kick from the left loops over the crossbar for a goalkick. A real waste from a decent position to threaten.

5. Cahill pushed and earns a free-kick down the left. It's taken quickly and Carney's ball into the area is headed clear.

6. Cahill so close but can't get clean enough connection from close range. Ball cleared by the feet of keeper Saqr. Should have scored. Good work in the build up from McDonald.

9 McDonald goes down on the edge of the area but the referee not interested in awarding a foul.

11. GOAL! A dream start for Pim Verbeek. Brett Emerton whips over a terrifice cross from the right and Josh Kennedy climbs to power a header into the right hand corner of the net from 12 metres.

13. Australia force a corner from the left and it's headed clear at the near post with Kennedy closing in for the kill.

14. Cahill stretches to meet a cross from the right but can't keep his header down. Australia looking good and passing the ball with confidence.

15. Carney plays in Wilkshire and the shot flies off the outside of his boot narrowly wide of the right post.

16. Emerton brought crashing down after some nifty footwork down the right. Another chance for Carney to deliver an inswinging free-kick.

17. Cahill is beaten to Carney's set piece at the far post but still earns a corner.

18. GOAL! Terrific set piece whipped in from Wilkshire from the corner, Cahill attacks the ball from six metres and guides a header into the right hand corner of the net. 2-0 to the Socceroos.

19. Qatar are struggling badly in the air, both Australia goals from headers. The green and gold are pushing hard for a third.

21. Overhit through ball gives Qatar some brief respite.

24. Qatar earn themselves a free-kick as Carney brings down the visiting skipper. Schwarzer confidently claims the delivery into the area.

25. A Qatar effort on goal! Ibrahim takes aim from distance but his effort flies harmlessly over Schwarzer's crossbar.

27. Kennedy can't quite wriggle clear on the edge of the area as Qatar struggle to clear their lines.

28. Ohhh. So close to a third. The keeper sticks out his right boot to deny Kennedy who looks certain to score after being teed up by Bresciano.

29. Australia have already had the ball in the Qatar box more than 20 times in the opening half hour.

30. Emerton whips in another dangerous cross from the right and Amaral forced to clear just ahead of his advancing keeper. Qatar look shaky at the back every time Australia push forward.

33. GOAL! 3-0. McDonald plays the ball to his left inside the box and Bresciano is perfectly placed to sweep home into the left hand corner of the net. It's so, so easy. Qatar are sitting so, so deep and it's getting them into deep trouble.

36. It should be 4-0. Cahill is totally unmarked as he heads goalwards only to be denied by keeper Saqr from point blank range.

37. Craig Moore survives a penalty shout as Afif goes down in a challenge with the Queensland Roar skipper. Nothing given and rightly so.

39. Wilkshire strike blocked by Amaral just inside the area.

43. Wilkshire sidefoots an effort goalwards only to see it cannon clear. Emerton's charge into the area halted at the expense of a corner.

44. Neill's low cross from the left scrambled clear after the ball squirts away from Saqr.

45. A Qatar free-kick. Cesar's woeful, woeful effort is high, wide and perhaps sums up their first half performance.

45. One minute of added time to be played. Good news for Qatar at least!

HALF-TIME: Halfway stage and the Socceroos are 3-0 up. Who would have predicted that then? It's been so comfortable with the green and gold in complete control. Australia showing terrific movement, the passing is sharp and crisp and if there are any players out there with jet lag then they're not showing it. Qatar look positively lethargic in contrast to their hosts. Surely there are more goals for Australia in this. It's 3-0 but it could and should be at least five. You have to think more balls into the area will bring further joy against a shambolic Qatar backline.

46. We're all set for the second half at the Telstra Dome. Has Qatar coach Fossati delivered an inspirational speech to his troops? He's decided to make two changes. On comes Al Hamad and Rizik. One of those sacrificed is Qatar skipper Sattam. No changes for the Socceroos.

48. Australia attack breaks down due to a careless pass from McDonald. Qatar quickly squander possession.

50. Wilkshire's powerful first time drive from the right is parried by Saqr and hacked clear for a corner.

52. It's so easy for the Socceroos to keep possession. They are stroking the ball around with ease under no real pressure.

54. Should have been four. Emerton lofts a cross from the right towards the back post, Cahill connects well but his header drifts wide of the right post.

57. Bresciano skips past a challenge on the left edge of the box but can't place his shot beyond Saqr.

58. Qatar have missed an absolute sitter. A low cross from the right picks out Al Hamad and he somehow puts the ball into the sidenetting. A baffling miss. He'll be having nightmares about that one tonight.

59. Kennedy climbs to meet Carney's ball from the left. He beats the keeper with his header but the ball loops over the crossbar.

61. Schwarzer is finally called into action as he gets down smartly to his right to keep out a left-footed strike from Afif. Suddenly a chink of light for Qatar. They force their first corner of the game.

62. Cesar's delivery from the left is headed clear by Cahill.

64. The first yellow card of the night. Craig Moore is booked for obstruction.

65. Qatar pick up their first booking with Koni cautioned for a foul on Kennedy. Looks painful, caught on the achilles by the look of it.

66. Cahill comes off to a standing ovation - deservedly so. Replaced by Carl Valeri.

69. Qatar keeping possession for a spell but not really going anywhere. Looks as though Australia have taken the foot off the pedal somewhat.

70. A big roar as John Aloisi enters the fray as the injured Kennedy hobbles away for treatment.

72. Ibrahim can't quite shake off Lucas Neill as he surges forward, taking advantage of a sloppy pass from the home team.

73. Wilkshire's corner from the left is cleared at the near post quite comfortably.

75. 50,969 fans have turned out to see their heroes in Melbourne. The vast majority should be pretty happy at this stage. Albeit Qatar have made a slightly better fist of things in the second half.

76. Neill's looping header is cleared off the line as Craig Moore makes way for Brett Holman. Are we witnessing Moore's farewell to international football?

79. A shot on target for Qatar as Abdullah warms Schwarzer's palms with a decent strike after a surging run forward.

81. Qatar are looking considerably brighter as the clock ticks down but is that partly because the Aussies have eased off? Carney and Schwarzer combine to clear danger from a low left wing cross.

84. Aloisi totally in the clear after a terrific ball over the top from Neill. Really scuffs his effort and the keeper makes a comfortable save to his right. He looks gutted. Still two goals adrift of Damian Mori's record.

87. Scott McDonald caught offside.

88. Emerton heads clear Abdullah's cross from the right.

90. There will be two added minutes.

91. Culina plays in substitute Brett Holman from the right but he badly fluffs his shot from close range. Just a few seconds remaining at the Dome. A McDonald cross from the right is headed clear.

92. The whistle blows and Australia are off to a winning start under Pim Verbeek.

FULL-TIME: Australia 3 Qatar 0.
All the hard work was done in the first half with goals from Josh Kennedy, Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano. The Socceroos could and should have had more goals. Qatar, woeful in the first half, improved slightly in the second half as coach Jorge Fossati made several changes. The overseas Aussies all played their part in this win with Brett Emerton and Jason Culina particularly impressive. John Aloisi and Brett Holman fluffed late chances to increase the margin of victory but three points, three goals and a clean sheet is a pretty good start.