Socceroos qualify for Asian Cup

Mark Milligan's first international goal was all Australia had to show for 90 minutes of domination against Indonesia but it still brought the desired reward in front of a 20,422 crowd at Suncorp Stadium.

Requiring just a draw to ensure a second Asian Cup campaign, a determined Milligan sealed the Socceroos' place in the 42nd minute with a scrambling goal from a Luke Wilkshire free kick.

Australia: Eugene Galekovic, Shannon Cole (Matt Thompson 72'), Mark Milligan, Simon Colosimo, Scott Jamieson, Jacob Burns (David Williams 89'), Luke Wilkshire, Mile Sterjovski (Matt McKay 45'), Jason Culina (c), Tommy Oar, Josh Kennedy.

The win moved Australia to the top of Group B on 11 points while Indonesia finished its campaign with three draws.

The final game of the group sees Oman (seven points) host Kuwait (eight points) with a place in the finals up for grabs.

One of just three foreign-based players in the mostly A-League squad, 2006 World Cup member Milligan had some luck on his side but Australia deserved to win by more as they 22 shots at goal to the visitors' three.

The Japan-based former Sydney FC defender shouldered Wilkshire's cross on to the cross bar before swivelling on a tight angle to hammer the ball into goalkeeper Markus Harison Rihihina, with it deflecting into the net.

"I don't mind how it comes, it's my first goal for the national team," Milligan told ABC Radio.

"I was lucky it fell nicely for me off the cross bar, it doesn't happen often.

"We obviously would have liked a second.

"We were solid in defence as a team and as a unit so we're happy to be in the Asian Cup and that's all that matters."

The lacklustre Indonesians gave their stretcher bearers almost as much work as captain and lone striker Bambang Pamungkas, who pre-match promised a far more difficult assignment for the home side.

Indonesia's last victory against the Socceroos came in the 1981 World Cup qualifiers and the visitors never looked like ending their 30-year drought.

Even when they went a goal down the Merah Putih were hesitant and failed to force the pace, leaving Pamungkas and fellow attacking spark Budi Sudarsono with little action.

The Socceroos enjoyed close to 80 per cent of the possession and had countless chances to kill off the visitors early in the second half.

In one five-minute period, striker Josh Kennedy missed two headers in the box and then spoilt a golden chance for Wilkshire by intercepting a brilliant Tommy Oar cross meant for the Dynamo Moscow utility.

Captain Jason Culina also unleashed a series of long-range shots, further testing an up-to-the-task Markus with each.

Twin debutants Oar and Sydney FC defender Shannon Cole, highly impressive in his 72 minutes on the wet pitch, were among Verbeek's best.

Verbeek later tried to water down the hype over Oar despite an impressive performance by the 18-year-old winger.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on the boy. I think he played a fantastic game and I think it's fantastic for Australian football that you have a player this young doing this," Verbeek told Foxsports after the game.

"He made some unbelievable big steps this year - coming out of nothing, playing for (Queensland) Roar, playing for the national team and playing a good game like this.

"It's Fantastic for him, fantastic for Australian football but please keep the pressure away from him. Let him develop as a normal 18-year-old boy. I think that is important."

Older hands Culina, Wilkshire and Simon Colosimo were also stand-outs while Kennedy had an off night.

Right-side attacker Mile Sterjovski paid the price for a lacklustre first half, replaced at halftime for Wilkshire to move up field and substitute Matt McKay to add extra midfield spark.

The Suncorp Stadium surface was in amazing shape despite five days of persistent rain in Brisbane and the first half was played in wet and muggy conditions.