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

Having taken the lead after 38 seconds when Kusini Yengi seized on a defensive howler the Socceroos should have banked the three points before conceding two goals in 140 seconds late in the match.

Ten minutes after Yengi had hit the post, then missed a sitter, Mahdi Abduljabbar pounced on a loose touch by Cameron Burgess to score with an outrageous 45-yard chip.

As Australia reeled the substitute scored again, following up after debutant Hayden Matthews’ misdirected header had hit the post.

But with ten minutes of added time to be played the Socceroos kept pushing and in the 96th minute Yengi levelled, stabbing home in a scramble after Brandon Borello had caused problems at the back post.

After a lengthy VAR check the goal was given and Popovic’s men had rescued a point.

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

“We had a couple of good chances to make it 2-0 that we didn’t capitalise on, then we gave away a couple of goals very quickly. But we showed great character to come back.”

The result means Australia only took partial advantage of helpful results earlier in Group C.

Japan won 3-1 in China while Indonesia beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Jakarta. That meant Australia went into the match still in an qualifying place behind runaway pacesetters Japan.

The draw in Riffa means they stay there, a point ahead of the other four teams in the group. With four games left the Socceroos could qualify directly, be forced into a further qualifying stage or finish in the bottom two and be knocked out altogether.

Popovic had boldly refashioned his team, making six changes from the one held to a goalless draw by the Saudis in Melbourne last week.

Among them there was a shock start for 20-year-old Sydney FC defender Matthews, who had a fine game until 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 controlling the game after being gifted the opener. Sayed Baqer under-hit a backpass and Yengi rounded Ebrahim Lutfalla and shot goalwards. It looked as if his shot was just wide, but the goalkeeper, trying to stop it, palmed it in.

Yengi might have had a second after 24 minutes after a fierce Anthony Caceres tackle created the opportunity for Riley McGree to cross but Lutfalla was sharply off his line to block his shot.

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

If the striker was unlucky then he should have done better a minute later when Aziz Behich cut the ball back from inside the six-yard box but Yengi failed to get off a shot.

Almost immediately Burgess blocked Ibrahim Al-Khatal’s shot to prevent an equaliser.

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

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

“We’ll take the point, reflect and move on to Indonesia,” added Popovic.