Goals from Awer Mabil and Martin Boyle gave Graham Arnold’s side a handsome two-goal lead at the interval before substitute Mitch Duke added a third with 20 minutes remaining.

The win sends Australia to the top of Group B, with a top two finish required to send them to a fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup.

Tested by an energetic Chinese side in the early stages, Australia went ahead through winger Awer Mabil in the 26th minute and never looked back, with Martin Boyle adding a second just two minutes later but before substitute Mitch Duke rounded out a comprehensive win with a third goal after half-time.

The hosts found themselves trailing to a superb Nguyen Quang Hai strike in the third minute but second half goals from Salem Al Dawsari, Yasser Al Shahrani and Saleh Al Shehri - following Do Duy Manh's sending off in the 54th minute - ensured Saudi Arabia triumphed in front of their fans at the King Saud University Stadium.

Issam Al Sabhi scored with only two minutes remaining to earn the West Asians a famous victory as Ivankovic’s side went toe-to-toe with the six-time FIFA World Cup qualifiers  in rain-soaked Osaka.

With star striker Sardar Azmoun suspended and head coach Dragan Skočić unable to attend after returning a positive COVID-19 test, Team Melli did enough to continue a 48-year unbeaten run against the Qasioun Eagles, with Jahanbakhsh’s 56th-minute goal proving decisive.

It was a win made all the more valuable by results elsewhere in Group A, with Korea Republic held to a goalless draw by Iraq before United Arab Emirates and Lebanon also failed to find the net in the later match.

Despite playing at home, creating many scoring chances and dominating throughout the 90 minutes, UAE had to share the spoils with Lebanon after a 0-0 draw at the Zabeel Stadium.

The result means UAE are tied on one point with Iraq, Korea Republic and Lebanon with Islamic Republic of Iran the early leaders after defeating Syria 1-0.

In a contest in the Korea Republic capital that saw chances at a premium, the hosts dominated possesion but failed to carve out meaningful opportunities against the visitors' organised and doughty defence marshalled by an impressive display from captain and centre-back Ahmed Ibrahim.

The 73-year-old tactician Advocaat, taking the helm of Iraq for the first time, was delighted at the display from his charges, in particular the way they shut down the likes of Korea Republic's overseas-based attackers such as Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min, Bordeaux's Hwang Ui-jo and Lee Jae-sung of Mainz 05.