Australia's trusty old-timer and a brash newcomer were the life of the Asian Cup housewarming party as the Socceroos thumped Kuwait 4-1 on Friday night.
Tim Cahill combined with sparkling six-gamer Massimo Luongo to soothe Australian nerves with a tournament-opening triumph in Melbourne.
After falling behind early, Cahill - who else? - equalised before man of the match Luongo, captain Mile Jedinak and James Troisi scored for the host nation.
Cahill gave the Asian Cup a gentle rub when entering the pitch and again was Australia's genie after an early setback.
The parochial sell-out 25,231-strong crowd, who roundly booed Prime Minister Tony Abbott at pre-game ceremonials, was hushed in just the eighth minute when Kuwait scored as a familiar crack appeared in the Socceroos.
From a lowly struck corner, Australia's defence alarmingly parted - centre-back Trent Sainsbury lost track of his man, Hussain Fadhel, who swept into a gaping hole.
Fadhel converted with a neat diving header with Cahill, the closest Australian, justifiably asking his defenders how it all went so wrong.
But Cahill, as is his habit, came to the rescue of the Socceroos with the crispest of strikes some 25 minutes later to equalise.
The nation's all-time leading scorer benefited from a razor-sharp cut-back pass from Luongo, who couldn't have been more impressive in his first international on home soil.
Luongo's pass sliced Kuwait's defence en route to Cahill who, standing on the penalty spot, clipped into the net with an upper-class right footer.
Luongo, a Sydney-born midfielder who has never played in Australian domestic ranks either, then capped his stunning opening half by heading the Socceroos into the lead in the 44th minute.
Ivan Franjic turned his marker, arrowed a sweet left-footed cross into the danger zone and jumping Luongo nodded his first goal for his country - just in front of Cahill, who was steaming in for the same ball.
As rain drizzled in the second half, captain Jedinak sealed the result by converting a penalty which was hard-won by Robbie Kruse, who was tripped in the box by Kuwait's Sultan Alenezi.
Jedinak coolly scored in the 62nd minute with a low right-footer - he went to the keeper's left as the Kuwaiti dived right.
The Socceroos were unfortunate not to add more - Mathew Leckie and dangerous substitute Nathan Burns hit the woodwork - until Troisi blasted a left-footer into the net from an acute angle in injury time.
Australia's mission was accomplished: a stylish win offering momentum for group games to come against Oman on Tuesday in Sydney and South Korea next Saturday in Brisbane.
The Socceroos recorded as many shots on target - eight - against the Kuwaitis as they did in their three World Cup losses in Brazil last year.
"Obviously we are pleased with the result, it was great reward for the players' effort," coach Ange Postecoglou said.
Postecoglou said after conceding a "self-inflicted" goal, the Australians responded in style.
"Sometimes things don't go to plan, it's how you react that is important," he said.
"They didn't go into their shells, if anything it made them more determined."
Kuwait's coach Nabil Maaloul said even after scoring first, he knew the Australians would hit back.
"Australia was very strong and took advantage physically and with their speed," he said.
"There was a big difference between the level of the Australian team and the Kuwait team."
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