Tim Cahill has put his success as a footballer down to the fact that he shows no fear every time he steps onto the pitch.
The New York Red Bulls star scored a match-winning brace as Australia defeated China 2-0 in the quarter-final of the 2015 Asian Cup in Brisbane on Thursday.
Former Everton star Cahill opened the scoring three minutes into the second half with a sublime overhead volley from the edge of the six-yard box before settling the affair with a customary header from a Jason Davidson cross in the 65th minute.
In the wake of the victory, which sent the Socceroos through to the semi-finals of the Asian Cup, Cahill spoke of his pride to fight against the odds to produce a famous win on home soil.
"If you don't have a shot at the title, you don't know if you're going to win. Nine times out of the ten, I win," said Cahill.
"That's because I always say I'm fearless when I go onto the pitch.
"But as I've said time and time again, I write my own scripts and I will in the future again because, given the faith the boss (Ange Postecoglou) has in giving me the opportunity to play, I'll reward the players and this team. It was a special goal.
"It's right up there (with my best goals) because it's a big tournament and it's just amazing to just to show up when it counts."
Cahill and his Socceroos teammates now await the winner of Friday night's quarter-final between Japan and UAE in Sydney with the second of the Asian Cup's semi-finals to take place in Newcastle on January 27.
