Australia clung to an automatic qualifying place in their 2026 World Cup group, drawing after a dramatic finale in Bahrain left Popovic with mixed emotions.

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Having taken the lead after 38 seconds when Kusini Yengi seized on a defensive howler, the Socceroos should have banked the three points but conceded two goals in 140 seconds.

Ten minutes after Yengi hit the post, then missed a sitter, Mahdi Abduljabbar pounced on a loose touch by Cameron Burgess to equalise 1-1 with an outrageous 45-yard chip in the 75th minute.

The substitute scored again just two minutes later, following up after debutant Hayden Matthews’ misdirected header hit the post.

But with 10 minutes of added time, the Socceroos kept pushing and in the 96th minute Yengi levelled, stabbing home in a scramble after Brandon Borello had caused problems at the back post.

After a lengthy VAR check the goal was given and Popovic’s men rescued a point.

“A crazy game,” Popovic said.

“We controlled the game very well in the first half… then it was an unbelievable finish from the Bahrain player to make it 1-1 and then (conceding) a quick two goals was a difficult moment for us.

“But we showed a lot of character to come back and get an important point.”

The result means Australia only took partial advantage of helpful results earlier in Group C.

Japan won 3-1 in China while Indonesia beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Jakarta.

Australia’s draw in Riffa means they stay second in the group, a point ahead of the other four nations in the group besides runaway leaders Japan, who are nine points clear of the Socceroos.

With four games left the Socceroos could qualify directly, be forced into a further qualifying stage or finish in the bottom two and be knocked out altogether.

Fixtures in March will be decisive: the Socceroos host Indonesia on March 20 before travelling to play China five days later.

Australia’s last two qualifiers are at home against Japan on June 5 and away to Saudi Arabia on June 10.

“Apart from Japan, everyone else is taking points off each other and tonight was evidence of that again,” Popovic said.

“I thought we put ourselves in a very good position at halftime to win the match but we missed a very good opportunity before we conceded.

“We find ourselves in second place, a point in front of the (rest of the) group and we have got to make sure that March is a very good window for us.”

Popovic boldly refashioned his team against Bahrain, making six changes from the outfit held to a goalless draw by the Saudis in Melbourne last week.

Among them there was a shock start for 20-year-old Sydney FC defender Matthews, who had a fine game until his wayward header, while captain and goalkeeper Maty Ryan was a surprise recall for his first start under Popovic.

The game exploded into life in the 61st minute when Yengi, improvising as he met a Riley McGree cross, hit the post with his chest.

The striker should have done better a minute later when Aziz Behich cut the ball back from inside the six-yard box but Yengi failed to get off a shot.

Almost immediately Burgess blocked Ibrahim Al-Khatal’s shot to prevent an equaliser.

The flurry of action was followed by a quartet of substitutions as Popovic refreshed his XI in the energy-sapping conditions.

The new faces had barely settled in when Abduljabbar’s audacious goal sparked the dramatic finish.

By Glenn MOORE, AAP