Goalkeeper Mat Ryan shouldn't be blamed for gifting the Netherlands their match-winning goal, Australian coach Ange Postecoglou says.

Ryan failed to stop a speculative 30-metre shot from Dutchman Memphis Depay which put the Netherlands 3-2 ahead in a World Cup thriller in Porto Alegre.

Holland held that lead for the remainder of the match, delivering Australia a loss Postecoglou described as a "heart-breaker".

Ryan's error came just seconds after Socceroo Matthew Leckie failed to convert a gilt-edged scoring chance, the attacker unable to turn in a close-range header.

"That was the critical moment that changed the game, both us missing the opportunity and conceding," Postecoglou said.

"That is how these big games are decided ... it's not just about one player costing us this game."

Postecoglou said Ryan was distraught at his mistake.

"We had a great opportunity just before then, so where do you draw the line of whose fault?" he said.

"It's nobody's fault. We win as a team, we lose as a team.

"Mat is very very disappointed at the moment and he's distraught.

"But he's only a young man, he's starting his journey as a goalkeeper. And give me one goalkeeper in the world that doesn't have a moment he's disappointed in."

Postecoglou said Australia didn't get rewarded for controlling much of the pulsating fixture at Beira-Rio Stadium.

"I felt for the majority of the game we looked more likely to win the game than not," he said.

"We did everything we needed to do today, bar win the game."