Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer saves Shao's penalty with his legs to preserve a 0-0 draw [AFP]

Schwarzer dived low and to his left in the 87th minute to block Shao's shot as Australia escaped with a point to remain top of Group 1, the region's so-called 'Group of Death' which also contains Qatar and Asian champions Iraq.

The third round qualifying match loomed as a tricky prospect for the visitors, after China had elected to play the game in Kunming at an altitude of 1,900 metres and in the heat of the afternoon.

Australia were without key players including Everton's Tim Cahill, Liverpool's Harry Kewell, Blackburn's Brett Emerton, and forwards Josh Kennedy and Mile Sterjovski who were all sidelined through injury.

"We knew that this would be a difficult game, but our boys were well prepared," Pim Verbeek, Australia's Dutch coach, said.

"But I have to admit, I can live with this result."

After a quiet opening period China came out firing for the second half, with Zhu Ting's header testing Schwarzer, before striker Han Peng squandered a clear scoring chance soon after, disappointing the 32,500 fans at Tuodong Stadium.

However in the dying minutes, Schwarzer brought down Qu Bo in the box as his previous heroics between the posts appeared to have come to nought.

But Shao, Energie Cottbus midfielder, under huge pressure to earn China's first win of the third round, shot tamely with his spot kick allowing Schwarzer to make a relatively easy save.

Australia stay top

Australia's best chance fell to Mark Bresciano in the first half after good work on the left by early substitute Brett Holman, but the midfielder's volley was saved at full stretch by China's Zong Lei.

Zhu could have had two in the first half but firstly missed left and then had a shot smothered by the busy Schwarzer.

"I'm very satisfied with how well we played and how hard we fought, we played with a lot of confidence but unfortunately we were not so lucky to win," Vladimir Petrovic, China's Serbian coach, said.

Australia stay provisionally at the top of Group 1 after beating Qatar 3-0 in their opening match, while China earn their first point following their 1-1 draw with Iraq in Dubai last month.

Qatar and Iraq play later on Wednesday in Doha.

Other action

In Group 2, Thailand and Oman will both be aiming for their first win of the third round when they meet at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, while Bahrain host Japan in Manama.

In one of the most highly anticipated matches of the Asian qualifying tournament, North Korea play South Korea in Group 3, a match that Fifa has moved from Pyongyang to Shanghai due to disagreements between the two football federations.

North Korea, who were set to host their southern neighbours, would not allow the South Korean national anthem to be played, nor their national flag flown, at the stadium in Pyongyang.

In the other Group 3 clash, Jordan travel to Turkmenistan after both sides suffered opening match defeats.

Group 4 sees first up winners Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia play in Tashkent, while Lebanon travel to Singapore as both sides look to pick up their first points of the third round.

Finally in Group 5, a pool consisting of teams all from the Middle East, Iran hope to bounce back against Kuwait after being held to a 0-0 draw by Syria first up, while the UAE look to continue their winning form when they travel to Damascus.

The third round of the Asian World Cup qualifying process will be completed in June, when each nation will play four matches in the space of three weeks.

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