From Australian Broadcasting Corporation:
Despite two and a half months spent training at the high altitude qualifying venue in Kunming, China, the Chinese men’s football team was unable to secure a victory against Australia. With four qualifying matches behind them, China now begins gearing up for a match against Qatar on June 2nd, on the road to competing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

China’s line-up players pose for a photo prior to the 2010 World Cup qualifier match against Australia in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province, on March 26, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

China’s line-up players pose for a photo prior to the 2010 World Cup qualifier match against Australia in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province, on March 26, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer saved an 89th-minute penalty to help an injury-depleted Australian side scrape a 0-0 draw against China in their Asian World Cup qualifier in Kunming.

The veteran Middlesbrough stopper went from villain to hero in the space of a minute, saving Shao Jiayi’s spot kick after he had brought down Chinese striker Qu Bo in the penalty area.

Schwarzer’s heroics were the counterpoint to a disappointing display from China, whose strikers missed a number of goal-scoring opportunities in a largely defensive and scrappy encounter.

See more photos from Xinhua below:

China’s Zhou Haibin heads the ball away from Autralia’s Jason Culina during their world cup qualifying soccer match in Kunming, Yunnan Province, March 26, 2008. The 2010 Soccer World Cup will be held in South Africa.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

China’s Zhou Haibin heads the ball away from Autralia’s Jason Culina during their world cup qualifying soccer match in Kunming, Yunnan Province, March 26, 2008. The 2010 Soccer World Cup will be held in South Africa.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
China’s Qu Bo waves his hand to greet the audience after he wins a penalty kick for the Chinese national team during the 2010 World Cup qualifier match against Australia in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province on March 26, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

China’s Qu Bo waves his hand to greet the audience after he wins a penalty kick for the Chinese national team during the 2010 World Cup qualifier match against Australia in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province on March 26, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Mark Bresciano(L) of Australian national soccer team breaks through the defense of Chinese players during the 2010 World Cup qualifier match in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province on March 26, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Mark Bresciano(L) of Australian national soccer team breaks through the defense of Chinese players during the 2010 World Cup qualifier match in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province on March 26, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)