The Australians were reduced to 10 just seconds after going down 1-0 against Denmark in the first 35 minutes of the game at  Queretaro in Mexico.

The Danes dominated the game, finishing with 58 percent of the possession and peppered the Australian goal with shot after shot that either just missed the target or were skillfully saved by young hero keeper Paul Izzo.

But the Australians could offer little in reply with the rainsodden turf proving to be exhausting and tricky conditions for a passing game. 

It took until the last minutes of normal time before they finally managed to counter into the Danish box and Luke Remington took his chance to steal a draw and save his side's bacon.

"[It was a] difficult game," admitted Verselijen after the whistle. "I think we started very well. We controlled the game in the first 15-20 minutes. We created some chances and I think that's a good thing to do.

"But after that we lost a little bit of the control of the game and of course Denmark had to take risks and they took a lot of risks by having more forweards in the tfront line and after half an hour it was 1-0.

"From that moment after the red card which happened just after the goal, it was more like survival."

"This it is just hoping that you just get the ball once or twice in their front thrid and that happened luckily at the end of the game."

The Joeys now face a long jourrney to meeet Uzbekistan, their nemesis in the past , with just one day to recover from today's energy-sapping game.

Versleijen added: "It will be very tough we have to travel it is a difficult trip and we only have one day rest and also what we had to do today to get the result. It will be tough.

"Now we see if we can prepare our team to go another round."