Tim Cahill knows he can still write his own script, but reckons others will write off his bicycle-kick stunner as a fluke.

Just like they wrote off his screaming volleyed goal at last year’s World Cup as a fluke.

And just like they keep writing him off.

“I’m not going nowhere, mate,” Cahill said after scoring both goals in Australia’s 2-0 Asian Cup quarter-final victory against China on Thursday night.

The triumph secures a semi-final slot against the winner of Friday’s Japan-United Arab Emirates fixture.

Cahill’s opening goal instantly entered Socceroos folklore: a perfectly executed overhead scissor-kick.

“It’s instinct. The World Cup (goal) was probably a fluke like people are saying, and that is probably a fluke again,” he said with a hint of sarcasm.

The 35-year-old then sealed Australia’s win with another goal, a trademark header.

“As old as I am, I keep hearing the same story about when I’m going to depart … after tonight, it will probably be a couple of weeks before they say it again,” Cahill said.

Coach Ange Postecoglou suggested the best might yet be to come from Cahill, the Socceroos’ all-time leading scorer with 40 goals in 81 games.

“I don’t need to add anything to Tim Cahill’s career. It’s spelt out pretty clearly for everybody … the best may be ahead of him still,” Postecoglou said.

But Cahill reckoned he was just a product of being “in an environment where you’re valued as a footballer”.

“And I still know I can change games,” Cahill said.

“I still know I can write my own script and at the same time affect football in a big way in Australia because I have never ever once not believed in the national team jersey.”

The buoyant Socceroos later Friday travel to Newcastle, the venue of their semi-final next Tuesday.

– AAP