The well-marshalled Japanese looked to have repulsed the incessant Australian attacks before Cahill's equalising goal rattled their composure and started the comeback.

"Just being part of this World Cup means everything to all of us," said Cahill, who became the first Australian goalscorer at a World Cup after the country failed to find the net once in the 1974 tournament in West Germany.

"To get the goal is the icing on the cake but we live for moments like these. We dreamed of this when we were kids. I'm just really happy to be a part of it," said Cahill, who was the official man-of-the-match.

Australia now head to Munich next Sunday for their clash with World Cup holders Brazil, while Japan must regroup against Croatia in Nuremberg on the same day.

Hiddink, who took South Korea to the semi-finals in 2002, further enhanced his reputation as one of the great modern-day coaches with the substitutions which altered the course of the match and gave the Socceroos genuine hope of progressing to the last 16.