Viduka and Kewell on target for rusty Australia

Australian forward Harry Kewell, seen here in 2006. A rusty Australia made heavy work of minnows Singapore, struggling in the heat before two goals from Mark Viduka and a Kewell rocket handed them a morale-boosting 3-0 victory.

A rusty Australia made heavy work of minnows Singapore Saturday, struggling in the heat before two goals from Mark Viduka and a Harry Kewell rocket handed them a morale-boosting 3-0 victory.

Newcastle goal poacher Viduka headed home in the 50th minute in front of a passionate 45,000 fans at the Kallang National Stadium and the Liverpool attacker added a second 15 minutes from time.

Viduka sealed victory with four minutes to go.

But it was a far from convincing display from a side studded with European-based talent, with the humid conditions and lack of match practice taking their toll in their final warm-up ahead of the Asian Cup.

"It was great to get the cobwebs out. The boys said they felt much better in the second half than the first, which is a good sign," said Australian coach Graham Arnold.

"We have been working hard to get our fitness levels up and Singapore tested us, but we still have a lot of work to do."

He singled out Viduka and Kewell for praise, but was less happy with his defence, which looked wooden and out of step.

"Our attacking play was fantastic but we have work to do on the defensive side. I was not happy with that side of things," he said.

"I'm talking about individuals I was disappointed with rather than the defence as a unit."

Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, out of the game for three months with a broken left foot, was not used while Kewell, still recovering from injury, made an appearance in the 60th minute, which helped spark life into the Socceroos.

The visitors provided some early pressure, with Viduka and PSV Eindhoven's Jason Culina going close, but it was the ASEAN champions, ranked 134 in the world, who had the best of the first half.

A mistake by West Ham defender Lucas Neill set Singapore captain Indra Sahdan free in the 35th minute, forcing a fine save from Mark Schwarzer.

The Middlesbrough goalkeeper was in action again two minutes later, padding away the ball when the Singapore skipper again burst into space.

Sahdan was the danger man and clattered the crossbar just before the break, giving Australian coach Graham Arnold plenty to think about.

Australia emerged for the second half more attack-minded and it paid off when Culina broke free on the right to loop in a cross that Viduka rose to meet.

But Singapore kept coming and Khairul Amri crashed a well-struck left-foot shot against the woodwork in the 56th minute, with the Australian defence looking lost.

Kewell's introduction changed the tide and he made no mistake from the edge of the box when he found himself with just the keeper to beat in the 75th minute, burying the ball in the net.

Viduka tapped home a third with four minutes left.

Australia head into the Asian Cup finals as one of the favourites to win the continental tournament at their first attempt.

They are grouped with Thailand, Oman and Iraq and get their campaign underway against the Omanis in Bangkok on July 8.