Lucas Neill was captain as Australia drew 2-2 with next World Cup hosts South Africa in an international friendly played in west London on Tuesday night.
The Socceroos are well into their Asian zone qualifying campaign for the 2010 finals and enjoyed a good work-out at the Loftus Road home of Queen's Park Rangers. Neill sat out an initial stage of qualifying earlier in the summer but should be involved when Australia travel to Uzebekistan on 10 September for the start of a Group 1 programme that also includes Japan, Bahrain and Qatar. The winners and runners-up are guaranteed a place at the finals.
Siyabonga Nkosi opened the scoring for the South Africans on 21 minutes but Mile Sterjovski equalised within four minutes. Josh Kennedy then put Australia in front, to the delight of the large ex-pat crowd in the ground before half-time. Neill made way at half-time and was off the pitch when Teko Modise ensured a draw for South Africa just before the hour mark. Academy graduate Richard Garcia, now with Hull City, made a late appearance off the bench while another former Hammer, Chris Coyne, also played.