Late drama in Brisbane

Popovic, one of five players retiring from international football after the game, headed the hosts in front with a couple of minutes of normal time left only for his replacement, Michael Beauchamp, to score an own goal in the dying seconds.

It had looked as though the friendly would only be remembered for the final chapter in the players' international careers. Stan Lazaridis was first to be replaced to a huge ovation and Paraguay skipper Carlos Gamarra came off to call it a day after 110 caps.

Tony Vidmar was next to make an emotional exit and keeper Zeljko Kalac was also substituted in his last game for his country.

It led to a disjointed closing period of the game but Popovic, spared his withdrawal until injury time, had looked to steal the headlines with an 88th minute header. Mark Bresciano's free kick picked him out and the defender was left unmarked to glance past Justo Villar.

Beauchamp soon replaced the goalscorer but, within a matter of seconds, was guilty of a major misunderstanding with Schwarzer and his header crept into the net to gift the South Americans a surprise equaliser.

There had been few other incidents of note in a sometimes fractious affair. Oscar Cardoza had the best effort of an awful first half but his challenge on Kalac was deemed to be a foul in any case, and Vince Grella's drive across the face of goal was the closest anybody came to scoring before the late drama.