KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – The wait for a World Cup goal – and a win – is over for Australia.

The goals came in a flurry in the Aussies’ stunning rally for a 3-1 victory over Japan on Monday. Tim Cahill scored in the 84th minute and again five minutes later. John Aloisi added one in injury time.

“It was unbelievable to come away with a first World Cup win like that,” Aloisi said. “It was 10 minutes of probably the most exciting soccer that Australia has ever seen.”

Cahill, who came on in the 53rd minute, made an impressive showing for a player coming off a knee injury who has seen limited playing time heading to the tournament.

“It’s been one big massive procedure for me to get fit in such a short period of time,” he said. “To do what we did today shows Australian spirit, and it’s good to be up there with the rugby and cricket players.”

And, for one day at least, up there with soccer’s elite.

Monday’s comeback added another nerve-jangling chapter to the Socceroos’ World Cup story. In November, they upset Uruguay in a penalty-kick shootout in a playoff to qualify.

“We look to moments like these as kids dreaming of the situation,” said Cahill.

The Aussies didn’t appear capable of even tying the game after falling behind in the first half. But Cahill equalized when he picked up a loose ball off a throw-in and beat Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi with a right-footed shot. Kawaguchi erred in coming out of his net.

Five minutes later, with the Japanese clearly off-balance, Cahill scored from 20 yards with a right-footed shot that went in off the goalpost.

“We have to change everything mentally and physically,” said Kawaguchi. “We thought we had the win.”

Although the stunned Japanese pushed up for a second goal, it was Australia’s Aloisi who found the net in the final seconds from 15 yards after snaking through the defense.

That finished off the comeback for his nation’s first World Cup win. Australia’s only other trip was in 1974, when it failed to score a goal in losing to host West Germany and East Germany and tying Chile 0-0.

“We started with two strikers,” said coach Guus Hiddink, who led South Korea to the semifinals four years ago and the Netherlands that far in 1998. “We had to build up the game with the strikers we had. It was part of the plan and we are very happy.”

Shunsuke Nakamura gave Japan a lead in the 26th minute, floating a cross from 25 yards that sailed in over the head of Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Schwarzer failed to grab the ball when he crashed into a group of players. Japan forward Naohiro Takahara made contact with Schwarzer as the two jumped, but there was no foul and Schwarzer walked off at halftime shaking his head.

“I complained to the referee afterwards,” said Schwarzer. “He said to me that he was sorry, that he made a mistake.”

Kawaguchi made several key saves off free kicks in the second half before his blunder on the first Aussie goal.

“We had a lot of chances when the game was level,” Japan coach Zico said. “But we didn’t take advantage and when Australia went to a three (forwards on) top they were able to score.”

Japan is in its third straight World Cup. Co-hosts in 2002, the Japanese lost 1-0 in the round of 16 to eventual semifinalist Turkey.

Their chances of advancing are slim now, considering they have Croatia and Brazil ahead. Australia, at least, can a bit more realistically contemplate making the second round.

“We all know this is a once-in-a-lifetime time opportunity and we don’t want to be walking away from here having any regrets,” defender Craig Moore said. “And that attitude was evident today. We never stopped. And thankfully we got our rewards in the end.”

AP-ES-06-12-06 1259EDT