Yet again the Everton star was the hero for Australia with his 74th-minute strike handing the Socceroos a hard-fought 1-0 win to put their qualifying campaign for the 2011 Asian Cup finals back on track.

The match, which was attended by only 20,595 fans at Etihad Stadium, might have lacked the glamour of some of the great stages which Cahill has performed on for club and country in recent years but that did not stop Australia's goal-scoring machine from savouring what he described as one of his most crucial strikes for his country.

And that is saying something, considering the goal maintained Cahill's incredible record of scoring better than once in every two games for his country with this goal his 19th in just 36 appearances for the Socceroos.

"I am lucky enough to have a few but it's right up there because it's an important goal," said Cahill.

"This was a very serious game and that is what I do. I come back here to enjoy my football and try and play as well as I can and send the fans home happy."

Cahill again proved the difference between victory and defeat in a crucial game for the Socceroos with his goal against Oman now sitting alongside his legendary late double in the 3-1 win against Japan in the opening game of the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

Other Cahill rescue acts include his late equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Oman in the opening game of the 2007 Asian Cup finals in Bangkok and his double against Japan in a 2-1 win at the MCG in June.

And of course he also scored the last time Australia played at Etihad Stadium in the 3-0 win over Qatar back in February 2008, which was the first match in the Socceroos' long road to South Africa.

Cahill said he was delighted his latest Socceroos goal had put the team's 2011 Asian Cup campaign back on track with Australia now joining Oman in equal top place with four points from three matches although Kuwait (three points) and Indonesia (two points) have a game in hand.

And with tough matches against Oman and Kuwait, both away, to come next, the importance of Cahill's strike on Wednesday night becomes even more apparent with only the top two in the group to progress to the 2011 finals in Qatar.

"It was definitely very satisfying and I was disappointed not to score earlier but you have got to keep plugging away," he said.

"We had numerous chances and I am just happy I found the back of the net and we have got the three points."

Cahill's strike had an element of good fortune about it in that it went in off the post but the Everton star said he always thought it was heading in after he connected sweetly with Scott Chipperfield's superb cross from the left.

"It was one of those ones where I kept going and going and 'Chippers' ended up finding me at the back post and it went in through a sea of players and came off the post but it still went in," he said.

"I got a clean strike on it, it went across the goal but when I saw it trickle in the net I knew it was in and it makes me happy."

But despite again proving the Socceroos hero, Cahill said the team had plenty of goalscoring options and paid credit to the hard work of Australia's big target man Josh Kennedy, who was superb against Oman in Wednesday night even though he did not score.

"I am always happy with Josh's performance," Cahill added.

"I am just sad I didn't get him a goal because he works very hard for me and I work hard for him and we are always pleased when each other scores."