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SYDNEY: Mark Schwarzer was acclaimed here on Thursday as Australia's hero for his late penalty save to earn the Socceroos a gritty point in a scoreless World Cup qualifier draw with China.
Unbeaten Australia top their group after overcoming a string of injuries and playing the Chinese at 1900 metres altitude in Kunming to claim a draw after Middlesbrough goalkeeper Schwarzer saved a tame 89th-minute spot-kick by substitute Shao Jiayi with his feet.
Injuries to forwards – Josh Kennedy, Scott McDonald, Mile Sterjovski and Harry Kewell – and the loss of lone striker Archie Thompson after just eight minutes left coach Pim Verbeek with no alternative but to play for a draw.
The Australian midfield, well marshalled by Vince Grella and Jason Culina, controlled possession with the Australian media questioning China's passive approach, especially in the first half.
"It's all positive for Australia after a gutsy draw against China, the priceless result laying a strong foundation for a successful World Cup campaign," The Sydney Morning Herald said.
"Everything that could go wrong did for the Socceroos before the match – a debilitating run of injuries which ripped the heart out of their goal-scoring options, virtually no time to adjust to the altitude, a gastric bug, and an early injury to Archie Thompson, which forced coach Pim Verbeek to go to his bench much earlier than he had planned.
"For now, the players and coaching staff deserve to enjoy one of Australia's more courageous efforts in recent times, although China's passive approach certainly played into their hands," the newspaper said.
Verbeek said China showed his weakened team too much respect.
"I really expected them to put a lot of pressure on us, because it's their home game," he said. "But the moment we had the ball, they were running back. So we could play combinations. They let us play, so I was really happy."
Schwarzer has earned a reputation for saving penalties in pressure situations for the national team.
He did it in 1993, when he made two saves to deny Canada in a World Cup qualifier in Sydney.
But his greatest moment came in 2005, when he made two saves in a penalty shoot-out in the second-leg World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in Sydney that helped Australia qualify for the finals in Germany for the first time since 1974.
Schwarzer said anything other than a point would have been unfair, and praised his teammates for their controlled display.
"It would have been a travesty for us to lose at that stage of the game," he told the Daily Telegraph.
"Obviously any penalty save is an important save but (especially) in a World Cup qualifier away from home.
"I think the team was outstanding. Every single player on the pitch, you take your hat off to them after a performance like that, considering the conditions, the time zones and the travelling times."
- AFP/so
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