AAP - Historic win for Socceroos.

 Three goals in the final ten minutes of play secured Australia a history making 3-1 victory against Asian champions Japan in the World Cup Group F clash in Kaiserslautern.

The Socceroos fell 1-0 behind at half-time after a controversial goal to Japan but substitute Tim Cahill scored twice, in the 84th and 89th minutes, to put Australia ahead before fellow replacement John Aloisi wrapped up the points and the best possible start to the tournament.

The goals were Australia's first in the World Cup finals after their first foray on the world's biggest sporting stage 32 years ago proved fruitless in front of goal.

Japan's Shunsuke Nakamura scored the only goal of the first-half in the 26th minute.

In two huge surprises, coach Guus Hiddink decided to start the game with Harry Kewell and Luke Wilkshire, and relegated Tim Cahill to the bench.

Hiddink had indicated on Sunday that he didn't believe Kewell was ready to play from kick-off after a groin injury had interrupted his preparation.

But Wilkshire's inclusion ahead of Cahill was even more stunning after the Bristol City midfielder had been sent off in last week's 1-1 friendly draw against Netherlands.

Japan barely troubled Australia early on but took the lead in contentious fashion mid-way through the first-half.

Nakamura scored after a dreadful refereeing blunder - with Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer clearly impeded by two Japanese players when trying to claim what looked a routine cross from the right.

First Atsushi Yanasigawa, then Naohiro Takahara clattered into Schwarzer - the second leaving him prone on the ground - as the ball dropped into an open goal.

But Egyptian referee Essam Abd El Fatah allowed the goal to stand, leaving furious Socceroos remonstrating over a decision that replays showed was clearly wrong.

The goal came as Australia was asserting itself on the match, which was played in 30-degree plus heat at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion in Kaiserslautern, south-west Germany.

Japanese goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was forced in to three outstanding first-half saves to deny the Socceroos - two in the same movement from skipper Mark Viduka after just seven minutes.

Midfielder Marco Bresciano then forced Kawaguchi in to a diving save to deny him in the 21st minute after more great interplay involving Viduka.

Bresciano also went close late in the half with a long-range free-kick, which went agonisingly into the side netting.

In the second-half Australia continued to push forward in search of an equaliser with Hiddink bringing on Cahill (53rd), Josh Kennedy (61st) and Aloisi (75th) for Bresciano, Craig Moore and Wilkshire.

Japan custodian Kawaguchi was called in to action on numerous occasions to deny Australia as his side seemed content to sit back and play on the counter.

Finally Australia's pressure paid off when Cahill pounced on a loose ball in the penalty box, after kawaguchi flapped at a long throw-in, to roll the ball past a see of legs and into the net.

Midfielder Takashi Fukunishi came close to restoring Japan's lead but his right-foot strike from the edge of the area was just wide while Japan also had a good penalty shout turned down when Cahill appeared to commit a foul in the area against Yuichi Komano.

But Cahill's day only get better when Japan failed to close him down on the edge of the box, and seizing the moment he rifled home a right-foot effort off the inside of the left post to send Australia's squad and supporters in to ecstasy.

With time fast running out, Japan was caught out again as Aloisi burst past defender Yuichi Komano and slotted the ball past Kawaguchi to put the icing on the cake.

Australia's next match is against tournament favourite Brazil in Munich on June 18 (June 19 AET) before a fkinal group game against Croatia in Stuttgart on June 22 (June 23 AET).

Brazil and Croatia meet in their Group F clash in Berlin on Tuesday (Wednesday AET).

Australia : Schwarzer, Bresciano (Cahill 51 min), Chipperfield, Culina, Emerton, Grella, Kewell, Moore (Kennedy 60 min), Neill, Viduka, Wilkshire (Aloisi 74 min)

Japan : Alex, Fukunishi, Kawaguchi, Komano, Miyamoto, Nakamura, Nakata, Nakazawa, Takahara, Tsuboi, Yanagisawa (Ono 78 min)

Scorers : Nakamura 25th minute (Japan), Cahill 83rd minute (Australia), Cahill 88th minute (Australia), Aloisi 91st minute (Australia)

(photo - AAP)