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The Aussie got lucky to draw in the end by the sound of it...
Substitute Tim Cahill spared Australia's blushes by securing a point against Oman with a last-gasp equaliser in the Socceroos' 2007 AFC Asian Cup opener on Sunday.
Gabriel Calderon's side looked on course for a superb victory after Badar Mubarak's first-half strike.
Oman could have wrapped up the points on a number of occasions in the second period but for the heroics of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Australia plugged away as the game entered the final stages and their persistency paid off when Mark Bresciano's effort was spilled into the path of Everton midfielder Cahill, who struck the Socceroos' first-ever goal in the competition.
The game had started slowly as both teams tested each other out, but it was Oman who had the first real attempt on target in the eighth minute when Ismail Al Ajmi sent a header over the bar from a corner.
Australia had a similar chance three minutes later when some good work down the left flank saw Luke Wilkshire's cross force a corner, from which Patrick Kisnorbo headed wide.
Oman looked dangerous on the counter and after one such break they won a free-kick some 30 yards from goal. Ahmed Hadid swung the ball in and Yousuf Sha'ban just failed to connect when in clear sight of goal.
Soon after, Australia had appeals for a penalty waved away by the referee after Harry Kewell appeared to be pushed over in the box.
The Liverpool player was then guilty of failing to capitalise on a golden opportunity when he was unable to convert a Wilkshire free-kick.
But it was Oman who shocked the Australian following when they took the lead just after the half-hour mark.
Imad Ali broke down the left and made his way to the by-line before hitting a low pass that found Badar Mubarak unmarked in the box. The Al Siliya forward picked his spot and fired beyond Schwarzer.
Just before half-time Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi snubbed out a threat of an Australian equaliser. Vince Grella latched onto a Mile Sterjovski ball and scampered past the defence but Al Habsi was quick out of goal to deny the Torino man.
Australia coach Graham Arnold brought on John Aloisi at the start of the second half in a bid to bring the Socceroos back into the game, but they continued to struggle to create chances of note.
Calderon introduced Fawzi Bashir for Badar Mubrak on the hour mark to add fresh legs to the Oman attack.
In the 69th minute, Schwarzer kept Australia in the match as he pulled off a superb one-handed save to deny Imad Ali when the striker rose to send a powerful header towards goal.
Oman again had a chance to seal victory minutes later when Bashir deftly wrong-footed an Australia defender to put himself clear on goal but Schwarzer came to the rescue.
Australia drew on all their remaining strength as the game entered the closing minutes and pressured the Omani back-line.
It finally paid off when substitute Cahill, returning to action following a long-term injury problem, smashed home after Al Habsi spilled Bresciano's effort.
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