The Socceroos clung to an automatic qualifying place in their 2026 World Cup group, drawing 2-2 in Bahrain after a dramatic finale that left coach Tony Popovic admitting to mixed emotions.

After taking the lead after 38 seconds when Kusini Yengi seized by a defensive screamer, the Socceroos should have conceded all three points before conceding two goals in 140 seconds at the end of the match.

Ten minutes after Yengi hit the post and then missed a goalkeeper, Mahdi Abduljabbar pounced on a loose throw-in Cameron Burgess to score with an outrageous 45-yard chip.

As Australia The substitute scored again, after debutant Hayden Matthews’ misdirected header hit the post.

But with ten minutes of added time remaining, the Socceroos continued to push and in the 96th minute Yengi equalized, scoring in a scrum after Brandon Borello had caused problems at the far post.

After a long VAR check, the goal was awarded and Popovic’s men saved a point.

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“There are a lot of emotions now because a lot of things happened during the match,” said the Socceroos coach.

“We had a few good chances to make it 2-0 that we didn’t take advantage of, then we conceded a few goals very quickly. But we showed great character to come back.”

This result means that Australia only partially benefited from the useful results achieved earlier in Group C.

Japan won 3-1 in China while Indonesia beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Jakarta. This meant Australia entered the match still one qualifying place behind runaway leaders Japan.

The draw at Riffa allows them to stay there, one point ahead of the other four teams in the group. With four matches remaining, the Socceroos could qualify directly, be forced into a new qualifying phase or finish in the bottom two and be eliminated completely.

Popovic had boldly reshaped his team, making six changes from the one organized until the Saudis’ goalless draw in Melbourne last week.

Among them was a shock debut for Sydney FC defender Matthews, 20, who had a good game right up to his wayward header. There was also a surprise recall for captain Maty Ryan, his first start under Popovic.

The goalkeeper was a happy spectator for much of the first hour, with Australia in control of the match after being awarded the opener. Sayed Baqer completed a back pass and Yengi rounded Ebrahim Lutfalla and shot towards the goal. It looked like his shot was just wide, but the goalkeeper, trying to stop it, spotted it.

Yengi could have had a second after 24 minutes after a fierce tackle from Anthony Caceres created the chance for Riley McGree to cross but Lutfalla suddenly moved away from his line to block his shot.

The game came alive in the 61st minute when Yengi, improvising as he met McGree’s cross, hit the post with his chest.

If the striker hadn’t been lucky, he should have done better a minute later. Aziz Behich cut the ball from inside the penalty area, but Yengi failed to shoot.

Almost immediately, Burgess blocked Ibrahim Al-Khatal’s shot to prevent the equalizer.

This burst of action was followed by a quartet of substitutions as Popovic refreshed his XI in energy-intensive conditions. The new faces had barely settled in when Abduljabbar’s audacious goal sparked a dramatic finale.

Australia’s campaign resumes in March with matches against Indonesia at home and China away.

“We will understand, think and move on to Indonesia,” Popovic added.