International friendly: UAE 0 Australia 0

Australia will rush back their stars after scraping a 0-0 draw with the UAE on Wednesday in their final hit-out ahead of the Asian Cup.

Despite a confident start to the match and a second-half goal contentiously disallowed, the Socceroos would consider themselves fortunate to escape a loss after spending much of the game’s final third keeping their energetic opponents at bay.

Manager Holger Osieck elected to rest the likes of Harry Kewell, Brett Emerton, Tim Cahill and Jason Culina, instead handing starts to Brisbane Roar captain Matt McKay and AEK Athens attacker Nathan Burns.

Both impressed in the game’s opening stages on the wings of Australia’s midfield, with McKay going close with his strike over the bar when teed up by lone Socceroos striker Scott McDonald just inside the area.

But the flow of the game soon became stymied by over-officiating, with the encounter interrupted far more often by the referee Ali Shaaban’s whistle than moments of quality.

That suited the UAE, who had edged the possession count by the end of the first half and were beginning to show their attacking threat.

Denmark-based goalkeeper Nathan Coe was introduced for his first senior Socceroos cap at half-time in place of Liverpool custodian Brad Jones, and he got a taste of what was to come when the lively Subait Khater tested him with a free kick from the left on 54 minutes.

The Socceroos thought they had taken the lead two minutes later when a header from captain Lucas Neill found the back of the net, only for Shaaban to rule that defensive partner Sasa Ognenovski had infringed in the build-up.

Coe needed to be alert to tip over David Carney’s sliced clearance on 70 minutes, with the SønderjyskE shot-stopper again on song to fist away Khater’s long-range free kick not long after.

Coe’s left-hand upright came to his aid with Fares Juma’s follow-up shot, as the UAE continued to grow in confidence.

But Australia were able to keep the UAE at bay, and could have even stolen a win in the 90th minute when an unmarked McKay headed wide.

The Socceroos will hope to improve for their Group C opener against India on Monday, while the UAE take on South Korea in Group D the following day.

Despite his side’s struggles, Osieck was content with the hit-out and intimated that his side’s rested stars would be brought back to ensure Australia began their campaign on the right note.

“The biggest mistake you can make is the underrate anybody,” he said, perhaps alluding to India’s world ranking of 142.

“We need to win this game, that’s for sure.”