Australia still don't know who their opponents will be in the World Cup Asian play-off tie after Iraq's win over UAE only raised more question marks.
The deflated Socceroos still don't know who they'll have to play on their increasingly tortuous World Cup path after Iraq's surprise win over the United Arab Emirates muddied the Asian play-off picture.
Graham Arnold and his side, still reeling after Thursday's dismal 2-0 home defeat by Japan meant automatic qualification for the finals in Qatar was beyond them, must beat the third-placed team from the other Asian group to keep their hopes alive.
The UAE would have booked a June 7 playoff date against Australia in Qatar if they had beaten Iraq later on Thursday.
But Iraq won 1-0 in the neutral venue of Riyadh, courtesy of Hussein Ali's 53rd-minute winner, to leave the play-off place in Group A up in the air again.
The game was switched to the Saudi capital after worries over security following a missile attack on the northern Iraqi city of Erbil last week.
The Iraqis have now moved into fourth place in Group A on eight points, just one point behind the UAE, before the last round of matches next week.
The UAE will feel particularly nervous as they face a tough home match on Tuesday against powerful South Korea, who've already qualified for Qatar, while Iraq will play in Syria, who are bottom of the group.
South Korea were inspired by their Tottenham superstar Son Heung-min, who opened the scoring as they went top of their group table with a 2-0 win over Iran, who had also already booked their ticket for Qatar.
Lebanon also had a chance to get into the play-off picture as possible Socceroo opponents but their opportunity looks to have disappeared after they lost 3-0 at home to Syria, who scored through Alaa Al Dali, Mardik Mardikian and Mohammad Al Marmour in the first half.
The highly-charged game had to be suspended for around 30 minutes in the second half due to crowd disturbances.
Even if Australia were to win their June playoff, they would then have to play the fifth-placed side in the South American group in an intercontinental playoff.
Japan's qualification for a seventh straight World Cup finals was secured by substitute Kaoru Mitoma's late double against the Socceroos in Sydney - a result which also guaranteed Saudi Arabia qualification.
The Saudis weren't able to celebrate it in Sharjah later on Thursday by beating China and they eventually had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Saleh Al Shehri put the home side in front in first-half stoppage time, only for an 82nd minute penalty by Zhu Chenjie to earn China a point.
That result moved the second-placed Saudis to 20 points in Group B, one behind Japan. Australia, six points adrift, will definitely finish third.
In the group's other fixture, Oman beat Vietnam 1-0 in Hanoi.
With agencies
