The 34-year-old veteran stole the show in the 1-1 draw when he came on as a 75th-minute substitute for Mahmoud Al Mawas donning a pair of shorts that would have looked the part in the AFL in the 80s.
Fans took to social media to comment on the shorts with Al Khatib quickly dubbed by some the Syrian Warwick Capper.
Apart from just adding some comic value, Al Khatib, who has been playing for his country since 2001, also made an impact on the pitch helping Syria lift the tempo of the game.
The Syrians, who have never before qualified for a World Cup, snatched a late equaliser in the 85th minute through Omar al-Soma when the referee awarded a controversial penalty for a Mathew Leckie challenge in the box.
The Socceroos will now face the Syrians in the return leg of the playoff in Sydney on Tuesday.
Australia must now either win or draw 0-0 at ANZ Stadium to advance to a play-off against the fourth-placed North American team in November.
A repeat of the 1-1 draw would mean they would then need to win via extra time or penalties.
