“We should’ve won,” the jet-lagged keeper told au.fourfourtwo.com. “I think the penalty was the only way they were going to win that game.”

Mariner Vukovic also noted that preparations were a little “disrupted, as we had guys coming into camp in Dubai late.”

The top two teams will progress to the third and final stage of qualifying, where 12 nations will be split into three groups.

The third stage will be held from August 22 - November 21, with only the three group winners representing Asia at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Australia’s defeat combined with a 3-0 win for Iran over Jordan, saw Australia slip to third on goal difference behind the Iranians.

With four of the six rounds now completed Sau di Arabia are on top of Group D with nine points, ahead of Iran (goal difference 3-1) and Australia on five points (4-3), with Jordan on two points.

The Olyroos’ crunch match is on May 16 against Iran. As Vukovic says, “it’s the big one.”