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Everton's Tim Cahill dedicates goal to victims of Australian bush fires as his team go through to FA Cup quarter-finals over Aston Villa

By Mirror.co.uk 16/02/2009

Tim Cahill shot Everton into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and dedicated his goal to victims of Australia’s catastrophic bush fires.

The stand-in striker has been back home all week on international duty with his Aussie team-mates. After a fine victory over Aston Villa, he reflected on the tragedy that has left people devastated back in his homeland.

And even though the Goodison club now fancy their chances of lifting the Cup after proving their pedigree with a remarkable performance, he admitted all that pales into insignificance after the scenes he witnessed.

"That was for the victims of the fires back home. When I went back I saw the effect it had, and all of us in the Australia squad were talking about it all the time, because it has been so devastating," he said.

"It puts everything in perspective and I was just happy I was able to contribute something with the goal and the gesture.

"I think we all felt we would like to do something, no matter how small, for the families of those affected, and I know the national team wants to do some fundraising."

Cahill wore a black armband and pointed to it after scoring Everton’s third goal 14 minutes from the end.

The Toffees will now face either West Ham or Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter-final at Goodison Park over the weekend of March 7 and 8.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/fa-cup/2009/02/16/everton-s-tim-cahill-