Everton midfielder Tim Cahill admits their 1-0 defeat to River Plate in Canada was no friendly.

"I just tried to hit it cleanly," said Cahill of his first half effort. "The pitch was so bobbly it was ridiculous, everytime you got the ball you needed two touches to get it down. I hit the target but it didn't go in.

"It was no friendly out there! But what can you do? You get on with it and give as good as you get."

The Aussie was happy to give credit to Ariel Ortega though following his brilliant goal.

"Ortega was still pulling the strings - he's class," continued Cahill. "I watched him as a kid and there was nothing Nashy (Carlo Nash) could do about the goal. Sometimes people have just got it - and he's got it."