Kewell rose in the opening moments of the second half to bullet home a header into the Iraqi net from Brett Emerton's cross.

However, the Socceroos had their goalkeeper Schwarzer to thank - not for the first time - for keeping Iraq off the scoresheet.

The Fulham custodian made an outstanding late stop to thwart the visitors, having earlier stuck out a leg to prevent them finding the net. The crossbar also came to Australia's rescue while several gilt-edged chances went begging.

Still, the home side held on to strengthen their position at the top of the group and leave Iraq's World Cup hopes all but over.

AUSTRALIA 1 IRAQ 0


94 FULL-TIME: Australia 1 Iraq 0. It's all over. Pim Verbeek's man have held on to three precious World Cup qualification points. Some very, very nervy moments along the way for the bulk of a 48,000-strong crowd but the sweet taste of victory.

93 Emerton has a throw in down the right. Sixty seconds to go.

91 Djite fouled on the right touchline. It eats up a few more seconds.

90 There will be four minutes of stoppage time!

89 North gets his body in the way of a fierce strike. Wilkshire booked for a foul on the right.

88 Iraq cross from the right headed out for a corner by North.

87 We have some fans on the pitch and a stoppage. Ridiculous.

86 Cross from Djite on the right, plays it back to Holman who fires into the side-netting.

86 Long pass towards Holman on the left edge of the area hits the sub on the back and the ball is cleared.

85 Iraq caught offside as they threaten yet again.

83 It's that man Schwarzer yet again. A wonderful block to deny the visitors from point blank range. Iraq had to score. Australia are creaking somewhat here. The job is far from done yet.

83 Mahmoud crowded out on the edge of the box, the ball ricochets off a colleague and out for a goal-kick. A big sigh of relief.

82 A howler by the Iraqi keeper, drops a cross but Culina can't finish.

80 Emerton concedes possession midway in the Iraq half but Australia recover quickly.

78 Djite wins a throw in down by the right corner flag.

77 Standing ovation for Harry Kewell as he goes off to be replaced by Bruce Djite.

76 Kewell's cross from the left, Culina attempts a back heel towards goal but the ball goes out for a goal kick.

75 Wonderful 40 metre pass from Culina, picks out Holman in a central position but the substitute pokes wide of the right post.

74 Spectacular overhead kick from Kewell flies wide of the left post.

73 Emerton whips in a cross from the right byline but the ball is cleared at the near post.

72 Carney's cross towards Holman is cleared.

71 Mohamed's touch inside the area lets him down and Australia are able to get in the block from Jade North and clear the danger. Iraq's first real decent opening of the half.

70 Cross from the right by Emerton finds Culina on the edge of the area but his low strike is blocked inside the six yard box.

68 Holman's effort curls high and wide of the right post.

68 Iraq make a change and on comes Sadir.

67 A good spell this for Australia. They win a throw on the left, level with the penalty area.

66 A wonderful chance for Kewell to make it 2-0. Great ball in from the right by Wilkshire, great first touch from Kewell but he can't find the power to push the shot past the visiting keeper.

65 McDonald is replaced by NEC's Brett Holman. Kewell penalised for a push.

64 Carney ball towards McDonald is cut out.

63 Great tackle by Emerton on the halfway line.

62 Australian substitution. Bresciano off to be replaced by Carl Valeri.

61 Cool defensive header back to Schwarzer by Carney.

60 Schwarzer confidently plucks out a cross from the right.

59 McDonald penalised for a foul down the right.

58 Bresciano threatens to burst clear after a quick Australian break but he's crowded out.

57 Iraqi strike crashes off Carney and Australia are able to clear on the edge of their own box.

56 North heads a cross clear at the expense of a down the right. The delivery comes in and a great punch clear by Schwarzer.

55 Australia retaining the ball well. Emerton's cross from the right is headed clear though.

53 Bresciano penalised for a high boot inside the area after a great header down towards him by Kewell.

52 Grella penalised for a foul on halfway.

51 McDonald hooks over a cross from the left byline but no-one in green and gold is able to pounce.

50 Ball down the left is flicked on by Kewell but gathered by the keeper.

48 Iraqi strike is well blocked by the men in green and gold.

47 GOAL: 1-0 to Australia. Brett Emerton's cross from the right is headed home by Harry Kewell. Terrific effort into the right hand corner of the net. Wonderful start to the second period.

46 We're underway once again. Bresciano wins a throw down the right.

The teams are out for the second half. Australia will kick off.

HALF-TIME: Australia 0 Iraq 0. The whistle blows at Suncorp. A throughly entertaining 45 minutes of football. Opportunities for both teams but in terms of clear cut chances Iraq should be ahead. One glorious chance wasted, a save from Mark Schwarzer and an effort off the crossbar. Australia have knocked the ball around confidently and Kewell should have scored with a header. Bresciano also saw an effort turned away. Can the green and gold go on to make the breakthrough?

45+1 McDonald penalised for a foul on the right edge of the area. A harsh decision.

45 There will be two minutes of added time.

44 Kewell screams for a handball in the Iraq area but nothing given.

44 Too much pace on the delivery from the left and the ball sails out for a goalkick to Iraq.

43 Bresciano's cross from the left headed out for another corner...and another.

42 Carney's deep corner from the right is met at the far post by Emerton but he can only head wide of the target.

41 Some nice close control in the Iraq area from Kewell, the ball comes back to Wilkshire who sees his shot deflect wide of the right post for a corner.

40 Grella claims an Iraq dive on the edge of the box.

39 Over ambitious Iraqi strike rolls harmlessly wide of the right post.

38 Important challenge by Beauchamp on the edge of the area to halt Iraq's progress.

37 Culina overhits cross from the right, McDonald gets up well but the ball goes out for a goalkick.

36 Another glorious chance for Iraq. A free-header just seven metres out and Mahmoud puts it wide of the target.

35 Carney lofts over a ball from the left and although Kewell gets up well he can't keep his header on target.

34 McDonald penalised for offside.

33 Wilkshire tries his luck from distance and again the keeper chooses to punch clear rather than catch.

32 Kewell concedes free-kick 20 metres out on the right. The ball comes in and Mahmoud sees a header drop wide of the left post.

31 Miskick from Schwarzer hands Iraq a throw in by the right corner flag.

30 Kewell to Bresciano but the latter's ball towards McDonald fails to find its target on the edge of the area.

28 Grella can't quite get past his man on the left flank and Iraq bring the ball forward before losing possession.

27 Wilkshire crosses from the right byline but the ball is ruled to have rolled out before he delivered it into the area.

26 It's Schwarzer to the rescue. The keeper sticks out his right leg to deflect away a close range effort from Mohamed. He was in acres of space and really should have scored.

25 Beauchamp very unlucky to be penalised for a foul on the left, midway in the Australia half. The free-kick sails past the left post and out for a goal-kick.

24 Wilkshire free-kick into the Iraq area finds Jade North but his header lacks the power to trouble the keeper.

23 Kewell fouled again as he turns and pushes forward. Abdul-Amir goes into the book.

22 Ball is delivered and Grella heads out for another corner. The second set piece is cleared up the pitch this time.

21 Great tackle from Carney to push the ball away from Mahmoud in the box, at the expense of a corner on the right.

20 A break in play and Kewell not happy with one of the Iraqi players.

19 Carney cross from the left and a bulllet of a header from Kewell pushed away by the keeper. A couple of centimetres either side and it was a goal.

17 Nice turn by McDonald on the halfway line but he's penalised for handball in the process.

16 Long ball forward from the visitors and Schwarzer has to whack the ball clear from the edge of his box.

15 Carney lofts in a cross from the left and keeper Sabri chooses to punch clear rather than catch.

14 Great turn by Kewell but can't quite pick out Bresciano. Nice stuff from Harry.

13 Free-kick from the left finds Kewell at the back post but the skipper heads into the side-netting from a tight angle.

12 First caution of the game. Kewell flattened by Ruhaima.

11 Mahmoud wriggles past Beauchamp and Schwarzer has to get down at the base of the left post to concede yet another corner. The resulting set piece is cleared easily.

10 Another good flowing move for Australia sees Culina fire wide of the right post from 10 metres.

9 Bresciano's touch lets him down in the area at the crucial moment and a goalscoring opportunity is lost.

8 Wilkshire cross from the right is easily taken by the Iraqi goalkeeper.

7 Wonderful move from Australia involving Grella, Kewell and McDonald ends with Bresciano warming the palms of goalkeeper Sabri.

6 Kewell chopped down. Free-kick on the right.

4 Emerton concedes a corner down the left, Schwarzer pushes the delivery away but it drops to a visiting player in green. It looks a goal all the way but thankfully for Australia, the shot comes back off the underside of the crossbar. A big let off for the home side.

3 Wilkshire penalised for a foul on the edge of the Iraqi penalty area.

2 The corner is swung over from the left and eventually thumped clear by Harry Kewell.

1 It will be Iraq to get us underway. We're off! Iraq force a corner in the opening 60 seconds.

Advance Australia Fair is now echoing around the ground. Hairs on the back of the neck stuff. Here we go ladies and gentlemen.....

Thankfully, the anthem is booming out at Suncorp and the visiting players and supporters are belting it out.

The teams are lining up for the national anthems. Hope someone has remembered to stick the Iraq tape in the machine...

Pim Verbeek has chosen the following players to take on Iraq this afternoon: Mark Schwarzer, Brett Emerton, David Carney, Michael Beauchamp, Jade North, Luke Wilkshire, Vince Grella, Mark Bresciano, Jason Culina, Harry Kewell, Scott McDonald.

Subs: Michael Petkovic, Chris Coyne, 6 Carl Valeri, 14 Brett Holman, 15 Bruce Djite, 16 Nicky Carle, Roddy Vargas.