THIS Monday marks 29 years since Diego Maradona’s famous “Hand of God” goal against England in the World Cup and Kyrgyzstan honoured the occasion with their own piece of deception against the Socceroos this morning.

Mirzaliev Almazbek handball won’t go down in history alongside Maradona’s goal — or Thierry Henry’s handball score against Ireland in 2009 — because it was a consolation goal in a game Australia won 2-1. But that doesn’t make it any less dodgy.

Replays showed Almazbek clearly punching the ball into the net before it had crossed the goal line. Despite pleas by Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan and several other players referee Khamis Mohammed Al Marri indicated he believed the ball had come off the Kyrgyzstan player’s head.

Satisfied Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou says his players learnt priceless lessons in their 2-1 victory against Kyrgyzstan.

The Australians opened their campaign to qualify for the 2018 World Cup with a tenacious triumph in Bishkek, overcoming their unheralded but highly charged hosts.

Captain Mile Jedinak scored in 60 seconds before the Kyrgyzs even touched the ball and substitute Tommy Oar coolly slotted another in the 68th minute.

The Australians were outplayed for much of the encounter at a raucous Dolen Omurzakov Stadium before a capacity 18,000-strong crowd.

Some fans perched on light towers, others scaled fences to get in, with an estimated 10,000 more fans crowded outside the gates - including a mob on the rooftop of an adjacent building.

“I’m happy because we have got through that experience and we have won the game,” Postecoglou said.

“They (players) will just learn a hell of a lot playing in that sort of environment, because we are going to have to go to places throughout Asia where that sort of atmosphere is common place.” The unfancied Kyrgyzs belied their lowly world ranking of 177: they logged 19 shots to Australia’s 11 and recorded nine corners to two.

“We had to work hard for it,” Postecoglou said.

“But at the end of the day we have got the result and we will grow from the experience as well, so that is a bonus.

“We probably just tried to force things a little bit in that first half.

“On the pitch it was really hard for us to keep passing through the lines and we would lose the ball a little bit too easily, which allowed them to counter-attack.

“With the crowd behind them, they had a lot of energy right throughout the game and we kind of made things difficult for ourselves.

“I thought the second half was a little bit better, particularly when Tommy Oar came on, we looked a little bit more threatening. “We’re satisfied with the result. We want to play better obviously, we want to grow from this. But considering everything that has been thrown at us ... for us to get a win away from home, I’m pleased.”

— with AP