Socceroos Earn Hard-Fought Point

A late penalty save from Mark Schwarzer has preserved a much-merited 0-0 draw for undermanned Australia against China in their World Cup Qualifier in Kunming.

In a dour match of few chances, Schwarzer brought down striker Qu Bo with just minutes left on the spot, but redeemed himself as he stopped Shao Jiayi's penalty with his legs, before diving on the ball.

The Socceroos could have even won the game in stoppage time, as Marco Bresciano put David Carney through on goal, but his lack of killer instinct allowed a superb challenge from China's left back to avert the danger.

Australia, which was missing stars Tim Cahill, Scott McDonald, Josh Kennedy, Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell, will be extremely pleased with the result, as it lifts them to top spot in Group 1. China now has just two points.

The late drama contrasted with the remainder of the match, which surprisingly saw a disappointing China sit back and allow Australia to control possession in midfield.

Coach Pim Verbeek's already interrupted plans were dealt a blow just before kick-off as Kewell succumbed to a groin complaint, and his worries were compounded after just ten minutes, as lone striker Archie Thompson was forced off injured after a tackle by Feng Xiaoting.

His replacement, Brett Holman, was impressive throughout the game, as he along with the tireless Marco Bresciano and Jason Culina harassed the Chinese defence into hurried passes and mistakes.

Chances were limited in the opening half, with players struggling to produce long passes due to the thinner air in Kunming's high altitude. Many long balls, particularly those of the Chinese, drifted harmlessly out of play, allowing the Socceroos to rebuild through their shorter passing game.

Australia's best chance of the opening half resulted in the 25^th minute from Holman winning possession just outside the penalty area. He slipped a pass through to Bresciano, but his shot was saved by Chinese keeper Zong Lei's legs.

The opportunity rattled China, whose only decent chances of the first half were a blocked shot and poor volley, both from midfielder Zhu Ting.

The second half yielded more of the same from the Socceroos, who were extremely content to maintain possession and probe for gaps around the Chinese penalty area.

China showed little more enterprise during the second half, and their performance was typified when their ineffectual captain Zheng Zhi was substituted after 70 minutes.

The Chinese persisted with long passes to lone striker Han Peng and his replacement Qu Bo into the second half, but the Socceroos defence, led by captain Lucas Neill, repelled each attack with composure.

But the tactic nearly brought the Socceroos unstuck with minutes on the clock as China was awarded a dubious penalty.

Schwarzer chose to charge off his line after a long ball forward landed just inside the penalty area. Schwarzer blocked Qu's initial effort, but in attempting to dive on the ball, he marginally caught Qu's legs despite knocking the ball away, and UAE referee Al Saeedi pointed to the spot.

Al Saeedi had minutes earlier infuriated the Socceroos by failing to even caution Manchester City and China defender Sun Jihai for his horrific, two-footed lunge on Luke Wilkshire, and the spot-kick decision further incensed the Socceroos, who surrounded the referee in protest. The Chinese players, led by Qu, celebrated as if the game was won.

Schwarzer, however, was not to be denied. Zheng Zhi's replacement Shao Jiayi blasted the penalty down the middle, but the shot lacked height, and Schwarzer was able to save with his legs.

The miss unnerved China once again, and the contest nearly took another dramatic twist as Carney had the chance to win it for the Socceroos.

With China lamenting its penalty miss, the Socceroos attempted to exploit China on the break. Valeri chipped the ball into the box for Bresciano, who cut the ball back for Carney, but he failed to attack the ball with conviction, and an excellent tackle from left-back Sun Xiang spared China's potential blushes.