Everton midfielder Tim Cahill scored twice as Australia came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 at the MCG and finish top of Asian World Cup qualifying Group A.

With both sides already having secured their place in next summer's extravaganza in South Africa, regional pride was all that was at stake and it was the hosts who came out on top to keep their unbeaten record in the final qualifying stage intact.

Marcus Tulio Tanaka had given Japan the lead five minutes before half-time but Cahill was on target twice in the second period to send the majority of a nearly 70,000 crowd home happy.