China was awarded a penalty in the 89th minute after Schwarzer was ruled to have bought down Shao Jiati as the Chinese striker chased down a long ball.

But after escaping with a yellow card, Schwarzer produced a magnificent penalty save with his outstretched feet to give the visitors the point their play overall deserved.

Schwarzer told Fox Sports after the game that the penalty award had been harsh and that defeat for the Australians would have been equally harsh given their performance.

"I made contact (with Jiati) but it was at the same time as getting the ball I think," he said.

"The TV (replay) might prove me wrong but the ball was right there and I got a touch on it, at least I felt I did anyway."

Schwarzer said he waited as long as possible before deciding which to dive to save the spot-kick before getting lucky as Jiati hit the ball straight down the middle and into the trailing legs of the 35-year-old Middlesbrough veteran.

"I am just glad I went the right way and saved it," he said.

"I tried to wait as long as possible and he didn’t hit it as far in the corner as I thought he would."

"And luckily with it hitting my legs it came back towards me as well so I was able to grab it on the second attempt."

Schwarzer said he was proud of the way the Socceroos' performed considering their lack of preparation, the absence of so many key players and the fact the game was played at altitude.

"It would have been a disaster to have lost the game in that last minute of the game and I thought we deserved to get something out of the game," he said.

"If you look at the preparation we had and the conditions we played under it was an amazing result."