Neill marches on with Australia

Lucas Neill played the whole 90 minutes as Australia continued their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign on Wednesday with a 0-0 draw in China.

The Socceroos needed a last-gasp penalty save from Middlesbrough's Mark Schwarzer in difficult conditions to make it four points from two matches, having won their opening game 3-0 against Qatar last month.The Socceroos are now based in the Asian continental zone and have been drawn in qualifying Group 1 - along with Iraq in a tough four-nation section. Iraq are the reigning Asian champions while today's opponents in Kunming reached the 2002 World Cup.

Australia are next in action on 2 June when they welcome Iraq before the reverse fixture is played just five days later. If Australia finish in first or second in the group, they will progress to the next stage which will see two groups of five teams. The top two teams from both pools will then go to the World Cup in South Africa - a fifth team will play-off against a nation from the Oceania zone for another spot.