Bahrain dominated the contest at the Bahrain National Stadium and had several clear-cut chances with the lively Jaycee John Okwunwanne wasting their best opportunity in the second half.

But they were made to pay as Bresciano capitalised on an error by Bahrain captain Mohamed Husain with seconds remaining to leave Australia at the top of the group with a maximum nine points from three games.

The heartbreaking defeat leaves Bahrain with just one point from their three games.

Bahrain made a confident start and created the first chance after 10 minutes as Abdulla Baba Fatadi’s shot across the face of goal was beaten away by Mark Schwarzer.

Schwarzer was again called into action eight minutes later as this time Okwunwanne caught Australia full-back David Carney cold and broke into the right hand side of the area. But with only Schwarzer to beat, he fired straight at the Australia custodian.

Mahmood Abdulrahman then blazed over from a tight angle before Australia’s first real chance came just after the half-hour mark as Luke Wilkshire’s right wing cross found Josh Kennedy’s head, but the striker could not make full contact while under pressure from Sayed Adnan.

Harry Kewell headed wide from Carney’s cross as Australia finished the half strong after being pegged back by Bahrain, while at the other end Salman Isa fired across the face of goal following a strong run.

Okwunwanne headed wide from Faouzi Mubarak Aaish’s corner 10 minutes after the break despite beating Kennedy to the cross eight yards from goal as Bahrain’s encouraging start continued in the second half.

Carney fired into the side netting from a tight angle for Australia two minutes before the hour mark with Tim Cahill begging for the ball to be pulled back.

John should have handed the home side the lead 10 minutes later as he completely missed Isa’s low inviting cross on the penalty spot with the goal at his mercy.

With less than two minutes remaining substitute Abdulla Al Dakeel almost snatched all three points for Bahrain as he sent a snap shot just wide of Schwarzer’s left hand post as the home side pressed for a breakthough in the closing stages.

But with seconds remaining in the three minutes of added time, Bresciano took advantage of Husain’s error to break into the area, holding off a desperate last-ditch challenge before rifling past an exposed Sayed Mohammed Jaafar.