Australia now is well set to cement a place in South Africa 2010 with three wins from three outings, but it can thank the fates it is in this position following this game. Socceroo boss Pim Verbeek admitted that his team had not played well and were very lucky. "We didn't deserve one point, never mind three," he reflected after the game. The goal came from a hopeful long clearance as the Australians sought to clear their lines again as they tried to hang on for a goalless draw. Bahrain captain Mohammed Hussain didn't deal with it, Bresciano robbed him and then fired into the top of the net.

The underdogs from the Persian Gulf were missing several key players through suspension going into the match and Australia, having beaten Uzbekistan and Qatar in its first two matches, would have gone into this game as warm favourites. But the formbook almost went out of the window as Bahrain threw everything at their highly credentialled opponents and dominated the game from the first whistle. Bahrain striker Jaycee John showed his willingness to chase down long hopeful passes right from the outset as Bahrain went on the offensive from the start with a fast paced opening that unsettled the Socceroos.

Within the first five minutes the Arab side had launched several direct attacks at a shaky looking Australian defence, with John, Bahrain's only European based player, and Abdulla Baba Fatadi, like John a naturalised Nigerian who has become a key man for his adopted country, at the heart of their most threatening moves. Australia lacked its usual authority as the strong, physical and athletic Bahrainis pressed them at every turn, giving the Socceroos little time to settle on the ball.

The Gulf team's tactics might have lacked sophistication - they play a direct brand of football - but it certainly gave them the upper hand in the opening 45 minutes when they could have scored at least twice but for fine saves by Mark Schwarzer, the Australian number one. The Fulham goalkeeper denied Fatadi early after the midfielder got past David Carney and Chris Coyne before getting a shot off from an angle, and then Schwarzer saved his team again after Fatadi won the ball after a defensive tangle inside the Australian half and played a pass through to John, who's shot was blocked by the diving goalkeeper. Australia failed to threaten, its lone striker Josh Kennedy getting little service and Tim Cahill seeing little of the ball in a crowded midfield area as the Bahrainis worked hard to close down space.

Aala Hubail tried a spectacular bicycle kick from a John cross and Australia continued to make life hard for themselves by playing loose balls and losing posession. In the 28th minute Hubail and Fatadi linked up to create a chance for Mahmood Abdul Rahman, who shot past Chris Coyne.

A Kennedy header in the 32nd minute that flew well wide was about the best the Socceroos could muster in the opening half hour as the enthusiastic Bahrainis continued to dictate the tempo. The hosts could have scored again after Salman Isa was played in down the left, outpaced Harry Kewell and fired in an angled drive that eluded Schwarzer but went past the post. Kewell headed wide from a Carney cross but it was Bahrain, with their tough tackling and high workrate, that took the honours in the opening stanza and Australia could count itself lucky to go in on level terms.

Bahrain took up from where it left off in the second half, Isa going close just after the restart when he found space to take a shot from the left which went past the post. Bahrain looked increasingly confident as they continued to win the ball with biting tackles in midfield and pass it around with more poise as they sought to switch play. John and Fatadi linked up to set Mohammed Hubail up for a shot which was deflected for a corner, from which John powered a header wide.

Australia's best chance came just before the hour mark when Kennedy won the ball in a scramble after a Bresciano cross to set up Carney but his shot blasted into the side netting. Cahill then tried his luck with an optimistic shot from long range, which Abdul Rahman repeated at the other end. The hardworking and tireless John was causing all sorts of problems with his bulk and pace and it took a Lucas Neill clearance to deny him after he was played through. Australia was under siege at the back as the Bahrainis threw everything at them in a bid to break the deadlock, with the Socceroos happy to get the ball off anywhere to safety.

The Gulf side, which is known for its never say die attitude, kept working hard to create space down the flanks. Aala Hubail and Isa combined to set up a terrific chance for John but the striker just could not connect as the ball flew past Schwarzer and the Australian defenders. Abdulla Aldakeel shot just wide as the game entered its dying stages and then a tremendous run by Mohammed Hubail was just ended by a desperate tackle as the clock ticked into stoppage time.