"It was the most amazing victory in the history of Australian sport," Sydney tabloid The Daily Telegraph said on its front page Tuesday, under the headline "GOAL! GOAL! GOAL!"

Australia's John Aloisi celebrates after scoring their third goal against Japan in Kaiserslautern. [Reuters]

Crowds of thousands of people braved wintery conditions and sleep deprivation to cluster around giant television screens erected at public sites in major cities to watch the game, which ended early Tuesday morning Australia time. Thousands more crowded into pubs, or watched the live telecast from Germany at home.

Roars of elation echoed through the streets of Sydney three times just before 1 a.m. as Tim Cahill kicked two goals and John Aloisi a third in the final minutes. The cacophony continued afterward, with cars filled with excited fans driving the streets honking their horns.

After watching the game on a giant screen near the Sydney Opera House, about 1,000 marched through downtown streets in celebration, stopping traffic in the center of the city.

Alcohol flowed freely at many venues, but police reported no major incidents.

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