Mark Schwarzer can already lay claim to the two greatest penalty saves in Socceroos history.

Today, he might have added a third.

The imposing goalkeeper, who sealed Australia's place in the 2006 World Cup with a pair of penalty saves against Uruguay, ensured the Socceroos maintained their unbeaten start to their 2010 World Cup qualification campaign after blocking a late spot kick against China in Kunming.

Schwarzer stopped Shao Jiayi's lame effort in the 89th minute to seal a 0-0 result after contentiously being ruled to have brought down substitute Qu Bo in the box.

It gave Australia a vital, and much deserved, away point after a horror build up to the game which saw as many as seven first-team players - including Harry Kewell (groin) this morning - ruled out through injury.

The Socceroos also lost striker Archie Thompson to a calf injury inside the first 10 minutes of a lung-busting encounter in the high altitude of Kunming, with coach Pim Verbeek understandably dishing out high praise to his troops after the match.

"I think we played very good," said Verbeek, who himself has battled illness while in China.

"We had only two days preparation while the Chinese team have two and a half months preparation, so I think we played very well, especially with Archie going out.

"He was our only striker and we missed him after five minutes but it was a very good game and I'm proud of the boys."

While more than content with the draw - which keeps Australia top of their group - Verbeek's Socceroos could very well have left China with all three points had they taken their chances.

Mark Bresciano was unable to beat China `keeper Zong Lei from close range in the 25th minute after some superb lead-up work from substitute Brett Holman while David Carney lacked urgency near goal in failing to lay a boot to a great chance - set up by Bresciano and Jason Culina - in stoppage time.

China were perhaps fortunate to end the game with a full compliment of players after a studs-up challenge from Sun Jihai on Luke Wilkshire in the 81st minute.

Referee Ahmad Nasser awarded Australia only a free kick with Jihai not even booked.

It was one of two dubious decisions by Nasser in the final 10 minutes, with Schwarzer adamant he touched the ball when ruled to have brought down Bo in giving away the penalty.

Schwarzer, though, ended the hero, adding the penalty save to his twin effort against Uruguay in 2005 and his shootout heroics against Canada on debut in a World Cup qualifier back in 1993.

"It's pretty hard to beat the Uruguay qualification but it definitely was an important save today," Schwarzer told Fox Sports.

"Obviously he didn't hit it as far in the corner as I thought he would and luckily with it hitting my legs it sort of came back towards me so I was able to grab it on my second attempt. So it was fortunate, but again you have to ride your luck sometimes.

"But I thought it was bit harsh to give a penalty and ... to have lost the game in the last minute would have been a disaster for us because I thought we deserved to get something out of the game.

"I think if you look at the preparation we've had and the conditions we played under, I think it is an amazing result."

With Iraq and Qatar to play overnight, Australia sit atop the four-team group with four points after two games. They beat Qatar 3-0 in Melbourne last month.

All four teams play their final four qualifiers in June, with the top two nations from the group advancing to final stage of Asian qualifying for the 2010 Cup in South Africa.

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