The Socceroos have escaped with a nerve-wracking 1-1 draw against Iraq amid dreadful conditions in Tehran to leave their World Cup qualification hopes in the balance.
Mathew Leckie gave Australia the lead with a 40th minute header from an Aaron Mooy corner kick but Iraq's attacking persistence paid off through substitute Ahmed Yasin's second-half equaliser.
It came as coach Ange Postecoglou boldly unveiled a brand new 3-4-3 formation at the PAS Stadium and they clearly battled to adjust as they hung on for their fourth qualifying draw in a row.
Australia has three home games to come - the next on Tuesday in Sydney against the United Arab Emirates - and at this stage it appears they will likely need to win all of them to make it to Russia.
Predictions of a scrap-fest turned out to be on the money.