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Australia took to the field without talisman Tim Cahill who was left on the bench as coach Holger Osieck rang the changes with Mile Jedinak replacing Neil Kilkenny, McKay moving into the hole and Michael Zullo returning to leftback, while Sasa Ognenovski replaced Michael Spiranovic in defence.

The changes were apparent instantly with the Australian side looking composed and fluid despite oppressive heat and jetlag.

They dominated for almost the entire match with a pressing passing game that kept pushing back the Saudis with a fast-paced passing game they tried to open up the home side.

But it took a cross into the box from Wilkshire down the right hand flank to open the scoring as half-time approached when he found Kennedy who glanced a backwards header into the bottom corner of the Saudi goal.

In the second half, Zullo impressed with a tireless performance that combined attack and defence and was almost rewarded with Australia's second soon after the restart.

But it was the constant harrying of Brett Holman - again relentless in his pursuit of the ball - that was to prove key to extending the Australian lead.

He expertly cut out a pass among the Saudi defence and carved up the opposition before an inch perfect pass to find Kennedy in the box who slotted the ball home effortlessly to make it 2-0.

Play was briefly interrupted when a firework was thrown onto the field and soon after play restarted, Zullo collided with a Saudi forward in the box, taking his legs away and bringing him down for a penalty.

Socceroo keeper Mark Schwarzer saved the resulting spot kick but could not get back onto his feet quick enough to keep out the shot from the rebound to make it 2-1.

With the Saudis having a sniff of a comeback, they pushed Australia who started looking tired in the heat.

But a tussle in the box as a corner came in saw Kennedy being brought down by his marker and the ref instantly pointed at the spot which Wilkshire converted for the final goal of the game.

Cahill and Mark Milligan came on for the last few moments of the game but the Saudis were already defeated by a superior Socceroo side who earned their comfortable win.

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