After a 4-1 loss to Norway, a confident-boosting result was just what the doctor ordered.

Australia started the match brightly as Bert van Marwijk's side began to express themselves confidently through quick combination play.

Mat Leckie, Andrew Nabbout and Tom Rogic were particularly exciting to watch marauding down the right-hand side, yet despite the attractive element to the Socceroos' play, they were unable to create any clear-cut chances.

Australia's only opportunity of note fell to Tomi Juric, who masterfully shielded the ball past his marker but slugged a dangerous shot just wide from a tight angle.

In the second half, Massimo Luongo - who was Australia's man of the match - dribbed through three Colombian defenders but shot straight at David Ospina.

"My spot in this side has been in-and-out, I'm just glad to get a run to be honest," Luongo said. "We're still a little bit off. Everyone's got to be singing from the same song-sheet."

Colombia, meanwhile, threatened to deceive as they began to dominate possession as the match wore on. Los Cafeteros easily controlled the second half, hitting the post twice through six-cap striker Miguel Borja, who could have had a hat-trick.

But a late surge from Colombia was saved

"I was disappointed to give the penalty away, but the main thing is I saved it at the end. We rode our luck a bit tonight. I just had a feeling it was going to go that way," Vukovic said.

"My first Socceroos camp was in '06, I've been waiting a long time but I've never given up and I can't put in words how I feel.

"I'm playing some of my best football now, playing overseas. Last game was difficult but we've turned it around tonight."

Mile Jedinak echoed Vukovic's sentiment, while admitting the performance was exactly what the goalkeeper deserved.

"We knew we let ourselves down the other night and we wanted to put it right. We made it difficult for them, Danny had a fantastic save, he deserved that. I couldn't be happier for him," Jedinak said.

"We didn't want to drop-off to early, we kept close enough to them and anything that was played behind we got onto it straight away.

"We have to use every opportunity as a boost. We got to understand what the coaches want and we know it's not going to be easy, but when it comes to that first game of the World Cup we'll do everything to be ready."

Van Marwijk said the result was a "compliment" to the players.

"The players now know they can do it. Every vertical pass we stood very well. In ball-possession we sometimes became dangerous," he said.

"They are capable. We'd been practising penalties so I said to (Vukovic) you did it on purpose. You travel with 55 people and everyone has to believe in something."