Australia dent Mexico's hopes

Vidmar manages to cut through Mexican defence

Mexico 0-2 Australia

Mexico's hopes of retaining their Confederations Cup trophy were dealt a severe blow after they were given a masterclass in finishing from rank outsiders Australia.

A thunderous 25-yard shot from Josip Skoko in the 54th minute put the seal on a fine display by the Australians and added to Shaun Murphy's opener.

Australia were far more focused and their attack made the most of Mexico's lapses in defence whose captain Claudio Suarez equalled the record for international caps.

  Key moments

20 mins: Shaun Murphy heads in from six yards

54 mins: Josip Skoko thunders home a 25-yard shot

He now shares the record with Hossam Hassan of Egypt.

The Socceroos were rarely threatened by a Mexican team which had enjoyed more possession.

Mexico, who won the trophy in front of their home supporters in 1999, were left rueing a host of wasted opportunities and were unable to resist the temptation to shoot from long-range.

Murphy congratulated by team-mates

The reigning champions made a bright start to the game with both Juan Pablo Rodriguez and Jose Manuel Abundis unsettling the Australian defence with their strong running.

But Mark Schwarzer made a number of fine saves, notably from a Rodriguez shot which was heading for the bottom right-hand corner of his goal.

However, the Mexican defence gave the Australians far too much space, allowing Steve Corica and Stan Lazaridis - who was outstanding - to whip in a series of crosses.

It was from a Corica cross in the 20th minute that the Australians took the lead, when 30-year-old Murphy headed home on the edge of the six-yard box.

The Australians should have made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time when Tony Popovic scooped the ball over the bar under pressure from Mexican keeper Oswaldo Sanchez.

Midfielder Skoko, who plays his club football for Belgian club Racing Genk, unleashed his powerful drive into the left-hand corner of Sanchez's goal after fine work on the right wing by captain Paul Okon.

It was the 25-year-old's second international goal.

One of only 3,000 fans to watch game

Mexico's best chance in the second half fell to Daniel Orsono on the 55th minute when he volleyed wide from the left-hand side of the box.

But they appeared to be still suffering from their 4-0 defeat by England in Friday's friendly and their long flight to Korea.

Unlike France's emphatic 5-0 win over South Korea which was witnessed by 61,000, the second Group A match took place in front of a virtually empty stadium.

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Mexico: Oswaldo Sanchez, Suarez, Oteo, Davino, Marco Antonio Ruiz, Rodriguez, Abundis, Borguetti, Pardo, Coyote, Victor Ruiz. Subs: Beltran, David Rangel, Osorno, Cabuto, Villa, De Nigris, Valdez, Victorino, Reyes, Perez, Hugo Chavez, Dautt.

Australia: Schwarzer, Muscat, Okon, Tony Vidmar, Popovic, Skoko, Lazaridis, Zdrilic, Murphy, Corica, Zane. Subs: Moore, Aloisi, Emerton, Bresciano, Foxe, Horvat, Chipperfield, Aureilo Vidmar, Thompson, Scerjovski, Juric.

Referee: F Tangawarima (Zimbabwe)