Sterjovski got on the end of a fumbled interception on the edge of the six yard box and made no mistake when he knocked it home, remaining calm under pressure to finish from an awkward angle.

Carney also showed remarkable sharpness after a very little first team club football with Sheffield United and a loan spell at Norwich City this season.

He kept his head when Jason Culina's attempted bicycle kick came back off the post and Carney was the first to react, poking it home to guarantee the win.

"I don't often get up the park to score goals but I just followed it in and luckily it came to me," said Carney after the game.

"At half-time Pim told me to push on a little bit more. I was happy to get the room and to get the goal."

Sterj admitted he was relieved just to be playing, never mind getting a goal after his ill-fated, barren season at Derby County.

"It was good to score a goal after not playing for six weeks," he admitted. "Luckily it fell for me...

"Our goal is to finish up top of the group. I thought Bahrain did very well."

Both were looking ahead to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and tying down a club spot to ensure their place in the Socceroos squad in South Africa. Sterj has been linked with a move to Perth Glory while Carney's future is more uncertain.

Carney added: "Now I need to be playing so we'll see what happens when I get back, have a chat with the gaffer and see what happens."

Harry Kewell had a quiet game by his recent standards but admitted afterwards that jetlag had played a large part. He was looking forward to rechargig his batteries ahead of next week's Japan clash.

"Bahrain were very hard-working and we needed to break them down,' he said. "All the boys are feeling a bit tired but this where it counts.

"We have to be super fit. Hopefully I'll be picked for Japan. I think it's going to be a great game..."