Cahill marks return with a winning goal

Socceroos midfielder Tim Cahill made a triumphant return to football overnight, scoring the winner and setting up another goal, as Everton beat Stoke City 3-2.

Socceroos midfielder Tim Cahill made a triumphant return to football overnight, scoring the winner and setting up another goal, as Everton beat Stoke City 3-2.

Having sat out the last six months because of foot injury, Cahill-s return to the Everton side has been anxiously awaited and he didn-t disappoint; heading home a Mikel Arteta corner with 13 minutes remaining of the match.

Surprisingly Cahill started the match, but quickly showed just why manager David Moyes has so much faith in him, setting up Yakubu for the opening goal of the game after 41 minutes.

Soon after the break, Everton went two ahead, before Stoke made a spirited comeback to draw level. But with 13 minutes remaining, Cahill found space at the near post and his glanced header found its way into the back of the net. He went off soon afterwards.

Scott Chipperfield continued on his fine goal scoring run of late, which included the winner for Australia against Uzbekistan on Wednesday night, coming on as a second half substitute and sealing a 2-0 win for FC Basel over FC Lucerne, with an 84th minute goal.

Scott McDonald was another to return from injury and get on the scoresheet; albeit his time away was much shorter; grabbing Celtic-s third goal in a 4-2 win at Motherwell.

McDonald, hit a brilliant volley on the turn to make 3-0 to Celtic after 24 minutes and also assisted with his strike partner George Samaras- double.

Australian captain Lucas Neill scored a rare goal, but it wasn-t enough to help West Ham to victory. Neill grabbed his side-s second goal in the 35th minute, volleying home from close home, but the Hammers couldn-t hold out West Brom, going down 3-2.

Nick Carle was another to find the back of the net; his second of the season, with a terrific shot from the edge of the area that helped Crystal Palace to a 2-0 win over Swansea, their first win of the season.

Mark Schwarzer played a full game in goals for Fulham, as they continued their impressive start to the season, with a 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers; Brett Emerton played a full game, while Vince Grella missed the match against Arsenal with a calf injury, as they went down 4-0 at home. Richard Garcia did not play in Hull City-s 2-1 win at Newcastle United, who again did not feature Mark Viduka.

Mile Sterjovski again did not feature for Derby County in a 2-1 win over Sheffield United, for whom David Carney did not play. Chris Coyne remained on the bench for Colchester United in a 2-0 loss at Crewe Alexandra.

Mark Bresciano played a full game, as Palermo won 3-1 at home against AS Roma, while Carl Valeri was replaced in the 62nd minute, as Grosseto lost 4-0 away at Sassuolo.

Brett Holman marked his starting debut for AZ Alkmaar with a red card just before half time for dissent, with AZ crumbling in the second half to lose 3-0 away at ADO Den Hagg. Jason Culina overcame the stomach bug that ruled him out of Australia-s win over Uzbekistan, coming on in the 73rd minute, as PSV Eindhoven won 1-0 at home against Sparta Rotterdam.

In Turkey, Harry Kewell was replaced after 77 minutes, as Galatasaray-s sluggish start to the season continued; drawing 1-1 at home against Antalyaspor; Michael Petkovic played a full game, as Sivasspor won 3-1 at home against Buraspor; while Bruce Djite was replaced after 74 minutes and James Troisi came on in the 65th minute, as Genclerbirligi won 3-1 at home against Eskisehirspor K.

Finally, Luke Wilkshire played a full game for, as Dinamo Moscow lost 1-0 away at FK Rubin Kazan.