MARK Schwarzer saved Shao Jiayi's penalty two minutes from time, helping Australia hold China to a scoreless draw yesterday and collect a valuable away point in Asian qualifying Group One for the 2010 World Cup.
In a very defensive match, Schwarzer was not forced into a save until the 86th minute when substitute Qu Bo drove a long-range half volley on target.
The Middlesbrough goalkeeper came to the edge of his area to make a save soon after and collided
with Qu, earning a caution from referee Ahmad Nasser, who awarded the penalty.
China's players were celebrating in anticipation of the winning goal, but Shao hit his shot low and down the middle, and Schwarzer was able to block it with his leg. The Socceroos goalkeeper made a similar save against Uruguay to help Australia qualify for the 2006 World Cup and claimed he was unlikely to ever better that effort.
But, "it definitely was important today," Schwarzer said. "It was a bit harsh to give a penalty, I thought. To lose a match in the last minute would have been a disaster. I think we deserved to get a point out of it."
Australia now have four points from two matches following their opening 3-0 victory over Qatar, who are a point behind in second place after their 2-0 win over Iraq in Doha.
Australia lost Liverpool winger Harry Kewell just before the match with a groin strain and forward Archie Thompson in the sixth minute, cutting their attacking options and contributing to the defensive nature of the match.
But China were rarely enterprising going forward at the high-altitude venue. Charlton midfielder Zheng Zhi created China's best attacking phases before being replaced in the 69th minute, bringing Shao into the attack. China were lucky not to be a man down after Manchester City defender Sun Jihai's two-footed sliding challenge on an Australian player in the last 10 minutes.
Sun said China, who have two points after a 1-1 opening draw with Asian Cup champion Iraq, needed to convert more chances. "Although we had a chance to win, we should really focus on the process instead of the result," he said. "From this game, we can see the hope and we're looking forward to our future games."
Elsewhere in Asia, Uzbekistan thrashed traditional regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia 3-0 in Tashkent to move a step closer to their first World Cup finals.
Timur Kapadze scored just before the break for Uzbekistan, Dynamo Kiev forward Maksim Shatskikh added another on 65 minutes and Server Djeparov converted a spot-kick two minutes later to move the Uzbeks three points clear at the top of Group Four.
Bosnia-born striker Aleksandar Duric scored his third qualifying goal to help Singapore see off Lebanon 2-0 in the other match in the group.
Turkmenistan were beaten 2-0 at home by Jordan in the other Group Three game.
Oman struck after just 26 seconds to condemn Thailand to their second successive defeat and all but rule out their chances of reaching their first World Cup.
Seconds after the kick-off, Ismail Al Ajmi broke free in the area to convert a right-wing cross to defeat a resilient Thai side who had failed to find the net with more than a dozen clear-cut chances.
"To win away from home is amazing," said Oman's Uruguayan coach Julio Cesar Ribas. "This has been a big boost to our chances of World Cup qualification."
The visitors soaked up 89 minutes of constant pressure from the Thais, with Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi fending off a barrage of attacks from strikers Teerathep Winothai and Teerasin Dangda.
"It was a very difficult game, we were under pressure all the time, but we did just enough to win," said Al Habsi.
In the all-Middle East Group Five, part-timers Syria earned a 1-1 draw with Gulf champions, United Arab Emirates.
AUSTRALIA COACH FALLS ILLAUSTRALIA coach Pim Verbeek suffered a bout of gastroenteritis and nearly collapsed during a news conference on the eve of yesterday's World Cup qualifier against China in Kunming.
The Dutchman appeared to "go green" and steadied himself against a chair after being asked a question, the South China Morning Post reported. "I thought he was having a heart attack," the Hong Kong newspaper quoted a reporter as saying. The news conference was called off, but a tired-looking Verbeek took questions later on, saying he felt better.
The stomach bug also struck down another team official. Verbeek, however, said it had nothing to do with the food provided.
"We have not brought in special food. The hotel food is excellent and the players have no complaints," said Verbeek.
Australia also cancelled a training session at the local Tuodong Stadium on Tuesday when a police escort failed to turn up.
The full article contains 822 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
