World Cup Qualifiers: Penalty earns Australia 1-1 draw with Japan

Luke Wilkshire scored a controversial second-half penalty to help Australia earn a 1-1 draw in a dramatic World Cup qualifier against Japan on Tuesday.

Both teams finished with 10 men and Australia will be more pleased with the result after surviving with a man short for more than half an hour.

Mark Milligan drew a second yellow card in the 56th minute and Yuzo Kurihara capitalised with a goal eight minutes later. But referee Khalil Al Ghamdi stunned Japan by awarding a spot kick to Australia for an infringement in the 69th minute.

Defender Wilkshire slotted the kick past goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima for the equaliser.

Australia came close to stealing victory in injury time when Wilkshire rocketed a free kick past the Japanese wall and Kawashima made a great save.