The Socceroos dominated the match for large periods, and Tomi Juric had two clear chances either side of half time – one in the first that will give him nightmares should Honduras escape Sydney with a result.

By comparison Honduras looked flat, which flattened their home support. As difficult as a bobbling pitch and flood of air horns made it for the Aussies, Honduras couldn't put up much of a fight.

Ultimately, it’s a result that many would have taken at the beginning of the match, and it sets the stage for a phenomenal night in Sydney – the likes of which Australia hasn’t seen for 12 years.

Returning captain corageous Mile Jedinak was key to Australia’s defensive solidity, and was proud of his side's performance, yet disappointed in the result.

“I must take it as a positive," Jedinak said. "On any other day we would have won the game, and we had a few chances but the ball wasn’t quite there.

“We take a lot of heart from it because it was always going to be a difficult game. I can't express how proud I am tonight, it means the world to me, but the jobs not done so I'll get these boys ready for a tough trip.

“I have no doubt that we’ll be right to go.”

Trent Sainsbury echoed his skipper's sentiment. 

“Honduras were there for the taking," he said.

"I’m disappointed that we didn’t come away with the win. The past few years we’ve played a lot of different combinations at the back, so we know each other very well and everyone knows the system.

“90 minutes in the legs help, and it was nice having the big man (Jedinak) in front of me again.”

By all accounts Ange Postecoglou nailed the tactics and the lineup, and his post-match disposition reflected a far more positive outlook on the Socceroos' future - and perhaps his own - than it has in recent times.

“I thought (the performance) was fantastic," he said. "Considering the Honduran fans - I said to the boys at half time that they could actually hear my instructions, that’s how dominant we were.

“(Finishing chances) is the hardest part of our game, but it’s not for the want of trying. Sometimes our composure lets us down, but it takes an enormous amount of courage to come here and create chances and outplay the opposition.

“We’ll go hard in Sydney and put the pedal down, and try as hard as we can for 90 or 120 minutes - they’ll have to keep up with us.”