A brace from Tomi Juric (7’, 36’) was cancelled out twice by the Saudis before half-time until Tom Rogic fired home a sizzler (64’) to claim all three points for the Socceroos.

It means Australia moves level on points with Japan and Saudi Arabia at the top of the group but remain third in the third round of qualifying on goal difference, with Thailand and Japan the final games in August.

PIC SPECIAL: Australia v Saudi Arabia

An early scare came for the Saudis as goalkeeper Yasser Al Mosailem had a clearance which rebounded off Juric close to goal but he recovered the ball.

Minutes later Al Mosailem would pay a price after slipping over as he went to make a clearance, this time falling to Juric who capitalised from 30 metres out.

There were errors from both sides, as Trent Sainsbury almost cost the team when he lost out to Mohammed Al Sahlawi but the Socceroos survived.

Australia continued to contain Saudi Arabia’s good passing but it eventually paid off as Salem Al Dawsari equalised after Al Sahlawi’s through ball cut open the Socceroos’ defence to make it 1-1.

Players on both sides were slipping over and some Roos made costly errors but hung on desperately.

Juric would then get his second after a blistering run by Mathew Leckie on the right paid off with a cross that looked like an arrow, straight to his teammate.

But on the brink of half-time a Saudi combination between Yahia Alsheri and Taiseer Al Jassam saw a headed ball across the face which was finished by Al Sahlawi.

Australia came out stronger in the second half and looked on top of the Saudis and in the 64th minute Mooy’s ball to Rogic had the Celtic man blasting a ball outside the box which gave Al Mosailem no chance to put the Roos up 3-2.

The home side needed a second goal and the Aussies had their hands in the air when Leckie was brought down in the box by Salman Alfaraj but referee Ravshan Irmatov turned down the appeal.

And with minutes remaining a mishap looked as if the Saudis would steal a draw, but Sainsbury and Degenek cleaned up, creating a counter-attack for Australia. Aziz Behich’s cross led to a chance for Juric but he shot over the crossbar.

AUSTRALIA: 1. RYAN Maty, 2. DEGENEK Milos, 3. SMITH Brad (46’ 16. BEHICH Aziz), 7. LECKIE Mathew, 9. JURIC Tomi (85’ 21. LUONGO Massimo, 13. MOOY Aaron, 15. JEDINAK Mile, 19. MCGOWAN Ryan, 20. SAINSBURY Trent, 22. IRVINE Jackson (63’ 10. KRUSE Robbie), 23. ROGIC Tom

SAUDI ARABIA: 22. AL MOSALIEM Yasser, 3. HAWSAWI Osama, 4. AL DOSSARY Abdulla, 5. IBRAHIM OTHMAN Omar, 6. IBRAHIM ALBURYAK Mohammed, 7. SALMAN Alfaraj, 8. ALSHEHRI Yahia (82’ MUWASHAR Salman), 10. AL SAHLAWI Mohammed, 11. AL KHAIBRI Abdulmalek (69’ 14. ATEEF Abdullah), 17. AL JASSAM Taiseer, 18. ALDAWSARI Salem (82’ 9. ASIRI Abdulafttah)

REFEREE: Ravshan Irmatov

ATTENDANCE: 29,785

PIC SPECIAL: Australia v Saudi Arabia