Schwarzer saves the day with last minute penalty against China

AUSTRALIA have gotten away with a 0-0 draw and a point from their World Cup Qualifying match against China at Kunming thanks to penalty super-hero Mark Schwarzer.

The match had limited opportunities and was played at a pedestrian pace up until the 88th minutes when the U.A.E. gave a ridiculous penalty against Schwarzer for a foul on Qu Bo.

The match was made even more difficult when Harry Kewell was added to the sick list which included Tim Cahill, Scott McDonald, Brett Emerton and Josh Jesus Kennedy so Australia and Pim Verbeek will be happy with the point away from home.

This result leaves Australia on four points at the top of the table. Iran will join the Socceroos at the top of the table if they are to beat Qatar as expected.

The game will be played tomorrow morning Australia time, 27 March 2008 at 2:30am on Foxsports 2.

The first-half hosted only a handful of half-chances but the best attempt fell to Socceroo, Marco Bresciano in the 25th minute. Brett Holman received the ball on right side of the box and crossed it along the ground into the path of Bresciano. He was unable to beat the Keeper with his toe from only 6 yards out.

The eighth minute saw Archie Thompson subbed off with injury due to a terrible challenge from Xiaoting which received a booking. Pim opted for Dutch League player Brett Holman.

During the second half Manchester City player, Sun Jihai was lucky to get away with a warning instead of a straight red card when he dived in with a two-footed tackle on Aussie player Luke Wilkshire. This was the first major error that referee Al Saeedi made. The second almost unfairly cost Australia the game.

With only 2 minutes of regulation time to go, Qu Bo got into the box from a long ball and looked to get around goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. Bo hit the deck quite easily and the referee pointed to the spot without any hesitation.

Super-Penalty-Hero Schwarzer saved the day for the Socceroos. The penalty was hit straight down the centre and along the ground but Schwarzer saved with his toe. The ball the fortunately rolled into his waiting hands to give Australia a get-out-of-jail card.

Australia should have won it in injury time when Sheffield United recruit David Carney miss-timed his shot from less than 6-yards out but coach Pim Verbeek will take the point back to Australia in readiness for their next qualifying match this coming June.

Australia v China Highlights Here