The veteran midfielder opened the scoring just after the restart with one of the best goals in Asian Cup history as his acrobatic overhead kick flew into the net beyond the despairing Wang Dalei.

Cahill then doubled his side's advantage with a trademark header on 65 minutes to send the home crowd into raptures.

Australia remain on course for a meeting with defending champions Japan, who face the United Arab Emirates tomorrow.

In the other last eight clash, Son Heung-Min was also at the double as his two extra-time goals saw South Korea progress at the expense of Uzbekistan.

Son Heung-Min came to South Korea's rescue as he netted an extra-time brace to send his side through to the semi-finals ©Getty Images



They will face the winner of Iran and Iraq at the last four stage.

Events on the pitch this week have been somewhat overshadowed by reports that Islamic militant group ISIS executed 13 teenage boys purely for watching the Asian Cup.

The teenagers were caught watching the game between Iraq and Jordan in the Iraqi city of Mosul, and they were subsequently rounded up and publicly executed by a firing squad using machine guns.

Their so-called crime - breaking religious laws by watching football - was read out over the loudspeaker before they were brutally murdered, and the parents are reportedly too afraid to go and collect their bodies.

After the completion of both quarter-finals, it was announced that the Asian Cup attendance record had been broken as 465,381 spectators have attended matches, already surpassing the 421,000 figure at the 2011 competition in Qatar.

"The fans are making this a truly remarkable festival of football," Dato' Alex Soosay, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, said.

"The overwhelming support is heartening, and we are on course to surpass our initial attendance estimation which is a wonderful achievement."

The Asian Cup attendance record has been broken at this year's tournament with over 465,381 in attendance ©Getty Images



Up until Cahill's superb opener, the Socceroos had struggled in front of goal, but four minutes into the second-half, the 35-year old demonstrated his prowess in the box with an unbelievable finish.

Australia's Ivan Pranjic innocuously headed the ball back into the area and it fell to Cahill six yards out, who pulled off an unexpected piece of athleticism with a bicycle kick that angled across the Chinese 'keeper and into the bottom corner of the net.

That wonder goal seemed to spark the contest into life and clearly buoyed by his piece of magic for his first, Cahill added a second as he met a teasing cross from Matthew Leckie with a superb leap, directing his header home to effectively kill the game as a contest.

China had no answer to Cahill's brilliance and afterwards Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou was full of praise for his star performer.

Cahill's second was a trademark header as he sealed the Socceroos progress to the semi-finals ©Getty Images



"It took a Timmy special to do it, but once we got it we never looked back," he said.

"I still think in that penalty box he's world class.

"We've got to make sure that players like him, we use to the maximum of their ability and understand that we can't just flog him out there."

In the other contest, Uzbekistan held firm against South Korea and they managed to force extra time, but eventually the Koreans quality shone through thanks to a two-goal salvo from Son Heung-Min.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2015: Japan move a step closer to defending Asian Cup title as Iraq set up quarter-final with Iran
January 2015: Last gasp winner cements Iran's place atop Group C at Asian Cup
January 2015: Double goals for Rashidov and Ke as Uzbekistan and China progress to Asian Cup quarterfinals
January 2015: South Korea seal top spot with tight victory over host nation Australia at Asian Cup
January 2015: Four-goal Al Dardour keeps Jordan's Asian Cup hopes alive