Postecoglou praises Australia's spirit after Asian Cup victory over Kuwait

Australia manager Ange Postecoglou has praised his side's spirit after they began their Asian Cup campaign with a come-from-behind 4-1 victory over Kuwait in Melbourne on Friday.

The host nation had endured an early scare when Ali Hussain Fadhel gave Kuwait an eighth-minute lead, ghosting in at the near post to glance home from Fahed Al Ebrahim's corner.

But the Socceroos quickly responded, with Tim Cahill and Massimo Luongo both finding the back of the net prior to half time.

A successful penalty from captain Mile Jedinak and a stoppage-time goal from James Troisi completed the comeback and ensured a successful evening for the hosts, delighting Postecoglou in the process.

"It's a pleasing result and a great reward for the players' efforts tonight," Postecoglou told reporters after the match.

"It's a goal we shouldn't concede, but the reaction was great and there was really good energy, intent and tempo.

"It's that spirit that every Socceroos side has had. Sometimes things don't go to plan and it's how you react.

"While I'd prefer that we didn't concede that goal, from the perspective of seeing the reaction, they didn't go into their shells and it made them more determined.

"I'm really happy with the spirit shown."

Hussain Fadhel's opening goal was the result of lackadaisical defending from an inexperienced Australian back four.

But although Postecoglou stressed that such poor marking was "unacceptable", he said he was pleased with the way in which his side responded to such a setback.

"At the end of a 4-1 victory, I'm pretty sure that most of the emphasis will be on the positives coming out of the game," Postecoglou continued.

"I've let the team know in no uncertain terms that conceding that type of goal is unacceptable and they're disappointed in themselves. We need to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

"But conceding a goal that's self-inflicted, as opposed to 90 minutes of solid football and four goals, I'd say the positives far outweigh the negatives tonight."

For a brief period in the first half, following Hussain Fadhel's opener, Kuwait had silenced a sellout crowd in Melbourne.

Well regimented at the back and dangerous on the counter, the visitors threatened a second and hit the crossbar late in the match through Alebrahim.

But, according to manager Nabil Maaloul, they simply weren't able to match Australia's physical fitness.

"Australia was really strong," Maaloul said after the match. "Physically and with their speed they were better. They deserved to win.

"Lets be real. There is a big difference between Australia and Kuwait, physically and tactically." Endi