Jul 1, 2007

SINGAPORE, June 30 (Reuters) - Mark Viduka scored a second-half double and Harry Kewell also got on the scoresheet as Australia ground out a 3-0 win over Singapore in a friendly in the city state on Saturday.

Australia, using the game as a tune-up for the Asian Cup, started slowly and it was the hosts who came closest to scoring in the first half.

Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer had to be sharp to stop Indra Sahdan in a one-on-one in the 38th minute and the Singapore striker came even closer five minutes later when his header crashed off the crossbar with Schwarzer beaten.

Australia stepped up the pace in the second half and it was not long before the Socceroos took the lead, with Newcastle forward Viduka heading home in the 50th minute.

Singapore pushed forward for an equaliser and Khairul Amri came close to scoring when his curling, left-foot shot came back off the post.

With Singapore leaving gaps at the back Australia made it 2-0 when substitute Kewell slotted home in the 76th minute.

The Liverpool winger then crossed for Viduka to head home his second in the closing minutes, wrapping up the scoring in the last game played at Singapore's National Stadium before it is torn down.

The Asian Cup, being hosted jointly by Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, starts next Saturday.

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