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First-half goals from Tim Cahill and Matt McKay, his maiden strike for the Socceroos in his 27th cap, put Australia in control, before Archie Thompson added a third late on in a match which was dominated by the Socceroos for most of the first half before losing intensity in the second stanza.

Socceroos boss Holger Osieck named a strong starting XI, with Mark Schwarzer wearing the captain's armband in his 100th appearance.

Mark Bresciano ran the show in midfield alongside McKay, while Germany-based Nikita Rukavytsya was a surprise starter in an attacking line-up.

Cahill had the first clear chance on goal with a well-struck left-foot effort from the edge of the box after Robbie Kruse and Alex Brosque combined, testing Lebanon keeper Abbas Hassan who spilled the shot.

The game was then delayed when the floodlights failed, forcing a five-minute halt to proceedings, however Cahill got his first Socceroos goal for 2012 moments later.

The New York Red Bulls man headed home in trademark style on 20 minutes, rising inside the box to meet Luke Wilkshire's well-placed cross from the right.

Australia had a second goal three minutes later after another fine move from the men in blue and gold, with Mark Bresciano spreading the ball left to David Carney to cut back for McKay to poke past Hassan.

Alex Brosque then blazed over from Rukavytsya's left-wing cross, while the Shimizu S-Pulse man's backheel teed up Cahill whose improvised effort was saved by Hassan.

Lebanese league topscorer Mohamad Haidar went on a threatening run down the left flank, getting inside the box after using skill to beat Luke Wilkshire in a moment of danger for the Socceroos.

The Cedars were buoyed by Haidar's run, with captain Roda Antar testing goalkeeper Schwarzer for the first time in the game with a low strike from range.

With the half coming to a close, Cahill could have doubled his personal tally when he headed Robbie Kruse's cross narrowly wide after the Fortuna Dusseldorf man found acres of space down the left.

Lebanon had the first clear opening of the second 45, with Abbas Atwi breaking down the right flank before picking out Haidar who should have done better with his volley which went well wide.

On 58 minutes, Hassan Maatouk went on a slaloming run through the Australia defence before sending a shot just past the post with Schwarzer scrambling.

The hosts tightened up defensively in the second half, while both sides made a series of substitutions meaning the intensity in the game began to peter out.

Substitute Brett Holman was lively after his introduction and he had a chance to score a third on 73 minutes following McKay's pass but his first touch took him wide and his final shot was weak.

Shortly after Adam Sarota couldn't divert Carney's cross on target, while Cedars substitute Mahmoud El Ali fired over from outside the box.

Thompson made it 3-0, scoring his first international goal since 2006, coolly finishing after Holman's throughball on 88 minutes.

Hussein Dakik fired over in stoppage time as Schwarzer celebrated his 100th cap with a clean sheet and a victory for the Socceroos who face Jordan in World Cup qualfying on Tuesday, while Lebanon host Iran.

   ___   >>> click here to see the pics from the game in lebanon