The Socceroos have suffered a heavy blow to their hopes of automatic World Cup qualification, with a 2-2 draw against Oman in Muscat.
The draw means the men's national team is now three points behind Japan and four adrift of group B leaders Saudi Arabia, with the top two sides earning automatic qualification to the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
The Socceroos twice led the match, first through a 15th-minute penalty to Jamie Maclaren and later through an Aaron Mooy strike.
But those goals were both cancelled out by a brace from midfielder Abdullah Fawaz.
Fawaz first scored with a beautiful curling strike into the top corner of Mat Ryan's goal but Mooy would later send a thunderbolt of a volley into the Oman net to give Australian what could have been a winning 2-1 lead.
Oman had other ideas and when Australia defender Fran Karanic gave up a penalty with a clumsy challenge, Fawaz made no mistake from the penalty spot to secure a draw in the 89th minute.
The loss means Australia faces a must-win match with an in-form Japan in Sydney on March 24 to avoid having to reach Qatar via the play-offs.
If Graham Arnold's team can achieve that feat it will then have to travel to group leaders Saudi Arabia needing a result to have any chance of avoiding a play-off.
Japan presents no easy win for the Socceroos, and beat them 2-1 earlier in the campaign.
Japan beats Saudi Arabia 2-0
Earlier the Samurai Blue beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Saitama.
Goals from Liverpool's Takumi Minamino and Genk's Junya Ito were the difference between the two sides.
Minamino scored after 31 minutes, converting a pass from Ito. Five minutes after the break Ito scored himself, drilling in a fine shot from the edge of the area.
The victory brought Japan within a point of Saudi Arabia in group B. The visitors would have confirmed their place in the finals had they won.
Each team has two matches left with Australia hosting Japan then visiting Saudi Arabia, both games in March.
Japan also play Vietnam and Saudi Arabia play China.
ABC/AAP
