In form ... Harry Kewell has been banging them in for his club. Getty Source: Getty Images 
In form ... Harry Kewell has been banging them in for his club. Getty Source: Getty Images AUSTRALIA have stolen a miracle victory after being totally outclassed by Bahrain in their World Cup qualifier.
Here's how all the pulsating action unfolded...
FULL-TIME: BAHRAIN 0 - AUSTRALIA 1
I can't believe what I've just witnessed! It can be a cruel game, football, and Bahrain will be inconsolable after that. They were totally dominant for the entire game but Australia have stolen it right at the death. If the Socceroos qualify by a point or two, we'll look back at this and thank the powers that be. Bahrain had 20 shots to Australia's 6.
Thanks so much for the hundreds of emails (from all corners of the globe), sorry not to get them all up but I figured you'd prefer more updates. Wow - a colleague just came by and asked: "Did that just happen?" Memories of Australia v Japan in Germany!
FULL-TIME: BAHRAIN 0 - AUSTRALIA 1
92nd min: GOAL AUSTRALIA. I must be a genius (for once). A Bahrain player miss-heads a long ball upfield from Australia, it falls to Bresciano, and he fights off the defender to score in the top-left corner of the goal. Route 1 stuff - long ball from the defenders landed right on a Bahrain head and Bresciano did the rest well, showing good strength to fight off the attempted tackle to toe-poke it home. SAVE. Schwarzer saves a shot at the other end and that's FULL-TIME.
88th min. CHANCE. Bahrain through on goal but Culina saves the day with a desperate sliding save. The corner is scrambled away. I have no fingernails left bloggers. CHANCE. Jaycee blazes wide, way wide, but he was in close. Injury time now.
86th min: SUB: Another striker on for Bahrain. CHANCE. The sub Aldakeel turns in the box and shoots for the near post and just misses. Could have gone across perhaps.
84th min: Brett Holman breaks away with pace but Kennedy is offside. Thought that may have been the counter goal for a minute. SUB. Cahill off, Sterjovski on.
80th min: CORNER BAHRAIN. The Schwartz deals with it easily. A point will be a very good result for Australia here, but I have a sneaky feeling we may grab one right at the death today as Bahrain press ever further forward. We'll see.
From Luke: "Currently watching the game from (Porto Alegre, Brazil) and WISH we’d stop hoofing the ball forward at every opportunity. Easy does it…. "
That just about sums it up.
77th min: SUB: Rahman off, Rashed (striker) on. Is this now a 2:4:4? Australia earn some possession in midfield after a had-ball. Kennedy flicks it on to Cahill ... but he's ruled offside.
73rd min: The cameraman hasn't had to swing the camera much in this half - it's all Bahrain - quicker, sharper ... better. Another through ball from Australia goes nowhere. SHOT. Bahrain earn a corner after another deflected shot. Safely cleared to cow corner by Culina.
From Mark: "Carn the Socceroos! I am in my midtown office looking South at the Statue of Liberty. Your updates are really appreciated! For those in the US, the Fox Sports Channel is showing the game on delay later today... "
70th min: SUB: Harry Kewell off, Brett Holman on. Fresh legs a good idea right now. A simple cross-field pass by Culina is over-hit and goes over the side-line. SUB: Hussain Ali off, Jamal (a striker) on.
68th min: GOLDEN CHANCE. Isa crosses in behind the defenders, and Jaycee John misses an absolute sitter from 5m out. SUB: Chris Coyne off, Jade North on.
66th min: More goalmouth pressure on Australia, but Isa can't find a friend with a cute pass right near the goal-line. Phew. Again. Jade North is warming up....
63rd min: There is no midfield anymore, just bunches of players at either end. An Aaish cross is cleared but Bahrain still have the better of possession. Simon Hill: Just look at the pressure on the Socceroos when they have the ball.
From Mike: "the little bit of my thumb and index fingers that work the alt+tab & F5 combination are getting a bit bore.....come on aussies, make this waste of 2 hours of company time worthwhile!!!
60th min: SHOT. Tim Cahill lets fly from 30m and forces a fairly easy save from the Bahrain keeper. SHOT. Rahman lets fly from 30m as well, but it's wide. It's end to end stuff folks.
Shaun: "Group B has UAE 1-0 up over Iran at HT, if they win it would make Group B very, very open. I'm still pretending to work here in Dublin, keep up the commentary!"
59th min: CHANCE. Carney turns in the box after a good Australia break but blasts into the side-netting.
55th min: It's all in midfield for now, no shots in the last five mins. CORNER BAHRAIN. Jaycee is best on field and finds a teammate, who fires onto Carney for a corner. CHANCE. A header on target is deflected off Kennedy's head for another corner, this time the ball in is held by Schwarzer. That was a close call.
Cheyno from Taoyuan, Taiwan. "I am streaming the foxsports blog from my apartment in Taiwan - cable tv here has shown all the games live during the Asian campaign, but for some reason this one is being replayed at midday tomorrow - gutted! Love the updates on the site, fingers crossed we'll get the 3 points. I think 2 second half goals and a hard earned 2-0 win with Kennedy and Bresciano scoring late. Loving the depth we have in our squad, even with a lot of players missing our 11 looks strong. GO THE SOCCEROOS!!"
50th min: Australia settling a bit better with Kennedy finding some room and heading down for Kewell, but his touch looks sadly off. YELLOW CARD. Coyne is booked for a body check off the ball about 30m out from the Socceroos' goal. The ensuing shot hits the wall.
46th min: We're away again. Fresh half, fresh start, no changes for either side. Bahrain slice a deflected shot wide to get us started. SHOT. Isa shoots wide of Schwarzer's left post when he could have crossed. So much for fresh start, eh?
From Pav: "Come on lads, lets show some composure. Once were settled i think we can do well, we have much more quality. Work in IT in london is boring at the best of times, thanks for the updates."
When do you know it's late, Pav? When instant coffee starts to taste good.
HALF-TIME: Bahrain had the better of that stanza and Australia will be happy to go in at 0-0. Pim has some work to do. I have a coffee to make. See you all in 10 mins for what should be an interesting second half. Can the Socceroos find their game?
Bahrain 0 - Australia 0
Eddie says: "Watching the game with arabic (only) commentary again. Looked like a fast & scrappy 1st half, the boys lucky to be 0-0 but at least we're showing signs of settling slightly. Hoping for a more composed 2nd half & a 1-0 win."
43rd min: Good pay from Bresciano, who stays on his feet after Carney finds him inside the box, but he's just pushed off it at the death. Not quite a chance, but better ... much better.
41st min: CHANCE. Isa breaks from defence, beats Kewell and shoots across Schwarzer but misses the post by a foot or two. They have pace too, Bahrain.
38th min: I'd love to know what megaphone guy is singing. Anyone know Bahranian (lol)? CHANCE. Kewell heads right of the post but the flag went up inexplicably. No way he was offside there. CORNER. Punched clear by the Bahrain keeper. This is better but the counter is on. Oooh, through ball went awry or it could have been trouble for the Socceroos. The game is coming alive though. Australia looking better down the right side.
35th min: Shots on target: Bahrain 4, Australia 0.
SCORE: Bahrain 0 - Australia 0
32nd min: Kennedy finds the ball on his head in Bahrain's area but no-one at the back post. Has anyone seen Harry Kewell? He started on the right, switched to the left and has since gone AWOL.
30th min: Rahman gets a shot away from a difficult angle but it's over the bar. They look like they want it more, Bahrain, although I'm sure that's not the case. This Jaycee John is all over Carney on Bahrain's right side - he looks like an Adebayor type but maybe a touch stronger. Bahrain are trying lots of Arsenal type short passes in and around Australia's box, but the Socceroos are up to it for now. OK, yes, I'm a Gooner.
27th min: Culina stands in the middle of the pitch with ball at feet and arms outstretched, asking for options from his forwards and midfielders.
24th min: I really think Australia are struggling with this bobbly pitch. FOUL. Kewell fouls Fatadi and the latter glares at the Australia star. Simon Hill: "If looks could kill"
22nd min: Hubail tries an over-head scissor kick but can't find the sweet spot.
20th min: Carney provides a good ball into the box but Cahill can't get onto it. Best they've done so far though. Bahrain are offside on the ensuing counter attack - just.
18th min: About 20 fouls so far - nothing nasty, just physical. Australia yet to get in Bahrain's box. SAVE. Jaycee, a tall, powerful striker, pushes into the box and forces another good, parried save from Schwarzer.
15th min: Robbie Slater: "Australia look a bit disjointed." Bahrain's long balls are proving effective early. They are looking to get in behind the defenders too and Australia are not holding on to the ball. Early days though...
9th min: SAVE: Schwarzer saves a shot from his left, parried away well from a firm attempt from Fatadi. They are getting lots of numbers forward.
Fox Sports' Robbie Slater: "The surface is a bit dry and sticky so passes will have to be exact."
6th minute: It's a quiet start ... apart from the crowd-megaphone guy singing. Australia starting to see more of the ball.
KICK-OFF: Bahrain have the better of the opening exchanges and are clearly on all out attack mode. Busy night for our defenders methinks. Bahrain are starting with three up front in a 3:4:3 formation.
Russell (a regular) is on board: "plate full of vegemite sangers....heating on full blast
just need the excuse to crack a couple of tinnies... go Socceroos !!"
And we have South America: "Dan in Peru... I'm hoping the back 4 continue to hold firm and let the boys up front rip them apart, C'mon Aussies!!!"
Prediction 4-1 to the green and gold of course...
1:55: We've got anthems, and I mean anthems. Full 25-piece brass band - that'll add to the crowd. The boys have hands on hearts. About 100 Aussies in the stadium too. Oily expats perhaps? Correction: It's free entry for the locals tonight, and they've suddenly appeared from nowhere. We have some atmosphere folks.
From Brad in Guernsey: "Has His Majesty the King, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa managed to sneak into theie starting 11 seen as they have 4 out suspended?"
There is an ISA in the side (see right) but excuse me for not publishing their full names ... would still be typing at half-time.
1:51 There are about three people in the stadium, which in case you haven't seen it on TV, is set on what looks like a lunar landscape.
Banz adds to the international flavour this morning: "Gidday. Banz here in cold Japan hoping for a 'roos win. Japan is our main rival of course but should they beat Qatar tonight and we win as well it would really make it hard for the bottom three. 1st would be great but 2nd will do. Japan is lacking confidence up front though...anyway, go lads!."
From Pim Verbeek: Three points are very important tonight."
Right.
SK has a sad story too: "I'm stuck at my desk in Dublin trying to look busy until kick-off, here's hoping a brace from Timmy, with Kewell and Kennedy to chip in with 1 each for a 4-0 win eases my afternoon work boredom."
Janice has a Christmas wish: "I want every mum and dad to give their kids a soccer ball for Christmas. We need more mini Cahills, Schwarzers, Neills etc. to whom we can pass the batton... Go Aussies!!!"
Great idea.
Keiren: "At least you get to watch the game andy, Im stuck at work mate, only got stinking radio to listen to!!!! Cant wait to get home in the morning and see the replay!!"
Where's the love? What's this blog? Chicken liver? :)
1:37 (AEDT): Simon Hill and Robbie Slater report that it's cool in Manama, with a nice breeze. The pitch is still being marked (a bit late) but is in good condition. Crowd is minimal. Was great to see the Aussies training in strips with Craig Moore's name their backs. Nice touch.
Lachlan adds: "Hi Cornell. Tuning in from London this afternoon. Surely Kewell, Cahill and Bresciano in a three pronged attaching midfield would frighten any side in the world. Let’s put one food in the door for 2010"
It's a strong midfield isn't it? Even with several players missing this 11 is all class. Being flooded with mails so please don't send me hate mail if they don't get up, but keep 'em coming.
Andy from Bris-Vegas is a bit on edge: "Going out of my head here in Brisbane guys! Big rain storm has been going on for hours and my foxtel's dropped out. I hope it clears before kick off or I'm going to be furious!!!"
Fergo is also with us: "Go the ozzys give it to um!! Hope the boys do well and bring home the points!!"
Thank God we're finally in Asia eh? This is what we have all wanted for years (in my case decades). Some continuity in Australia's selections and plenty of games to firm up the formation and combinations. Hope I'm still saying that after this morning's match. Great to have you on board.
Fil from Adelaide gets us started: "Hi nightowls. I was hoping Bruce Djite will start but doesnt look like it :( Im believing that it will be a dominating from the Socceroos and a symbolic score of 3-0. Mark Bresciano, Harry Kewell and a debut goal for Bruce off the bench."
Not a bad prediction, Fil. I'm going for 4-1 with Kewell to bag two or three. His club form has been exceptional as I'm sure you know. Bahrain must attack and I think the Socceroos will get plenty of chances on the counter.
12:53 We're about one hour from kick-off (2am EDT) and the team news I'm getting suggests Pim Verbeek will start with a 4:2:3:1 formation (see right side of page for full team), with David Carney at left full-back and Josh Kennedy as the lone striker, with Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano in support. Carl Valeri and Jason Culina will sit just above the back four.
12:48 (AEDT): Right folks, hope you are as excited about this as I am. It's bucketing with rain in Sydney this morning and we expect much more benign conditions in Bahrain, where the forecast is for 25 degree temps and clear skies.
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