That dispiriting 2-1 defeat under the watch of then-coach Holger Osieck was accompanied by a cacophony of noise from a hostile crowd and it's fair to say the 27 year old centre-back doesn't recall the occassion fondly.
The recollection has only steeled his resolve to make sure Ange Postecoglou's new-fangled Socceroos don’t meet a similar fate as they bid to protect a 100 per cent record in Group B, against the side sitting second, two points adrift.
Spiranovic, who in July switched from Western Sydney Wanderers to Chinese Super League side Hangzhou on a lucrative three-year deal, said: “It was difficult game in front of a passionate crowd and a very hostile one.
“I vaguely remember the key moments when we had a penalty decision go against us. They capitalised from that and took a lot of confidence from it. They lifted, as you’d expect playing against us, and we have that to look forward to again, and we have to prepare ourselves right.”
Spiranovic, one of four survivors in the current squad from that fateful fixture, knows three points would help soothe a painful memory.
“It’s always hard to come to grips with playing in these places," he said.
"It's never easy to qualify for a World Cup and it’s what you’d expect. We know we're in for another tough one. We know what’s at stake.
“We want to top the group, win every game and we know Jordan is our closest rival with seven points.
“But knowing how Ange thinks, we will focus on ourselves. We know if we bring our ‘A’ game, so to speak, we generally get the result we want.
“Every game you have to be prepared. In Tajikistan in our last match, it was an astro pitch and hostile crowd and it was 0-0 at half time.
"We were in for another game but we stayed calm and composed and did the things we needed to do and in the end got our just rewards.
“It’s very important to stay calm again, there can always be surprises like a refereeing decision going against you, or maybe they score an early goal.
"But knowing how we play, and our philosophy, we can overcome any sort of difficulty.”
Spiranovic will be partner either Bailey Wright, who he played alongside in the wins over Bangladesh and Tajikistan, or a fit-again Trent Sainsbury, who he partnered in January’s glory run at the AFC Asian Cup.
Spiranovic believes both players possess considerable quality, and does not admit to any preference.
“Our last two games we've had good results and good performances. And I thought myself and Bailey were both good," Spiranovi said.
“The partnership and the communication were sound and it’s always important to have a good understanding of your other centre back.
“Its great signs when players can step in and step up and it keeps everybody on their toes.
“Bailey was part of the World Cup squad and the more you play and train together the better that understanding gets.”
With Sainsbury also champing at the bit to return to the starting side after missing out through injury in recent camps, Spiranovic knows that Australia is well served.
“Trent and I hadn’t played a game together before the Asian cup, and it was vital we developed a partnership from the outset and we did that and he had a great tournament," he said.
“Trent and Bailey are different sorts of players in some ways. Everybody has their strengths and weaknesses and their individual styles. But you have seen they have both shown a lot of quality, which is great for the team and the coach.”
After arriving at the half way point in the Chinese season, Spiranovic has risen to the challenges and was a commanding presence as his club side climbed the table, although recent results have seem it plunge to only three points from the drop zone with three games remaining.
“We haven’t been able to consolidate but I am confident we will be okay, basic errors have been costing us," he said.
