Shire footballers Alex Gersbach and Tom Glover have helped the Olyroos go one step closer to qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics.
Australia's U-23 Men's National Team surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with South Korea in Cambodia on Tuesday night in qualifiers.
Victory would have seen Graham Arnold's team top Group H but the Koreans eclipsed his side by virtue of scoring one more goal in their three matches.
An 8-0 win over Taiwan and a 6-1 victory over Cambodia were enough for the 2012 bronze medallists to finish above the Olyroos who are looking to reach the Olympics for the first time since 2008.
However, Arnold's side will join Korea in January's AFC under-23 Championship in Thailand as one of the best four runners-up from the 11 qualifying groups thanks to a pair of 6-0 wins over Cambodia and Taiwan.
In Thailand 16 teams will fight it out for three Asian places, alongside hosts Japan, at the 2020 Games.
Two first-half goals from Brisbane Roar youngster Nick D'Agostino gave the Olyroos the perfect start in Phnom Penh only for South Korea to hit back to claim a deserved draw following a second-half onslaught.
D'Agostino opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he stabbed home from close range after the Korean defence failed to deal with a low cross from Melbourne City winger Lachlan Wales.
The 21-year-old doubled his side's lead six minutes later with a smart finish following a surging run from Gersbach.
But the Koreans halved the deficit almost immediately through Cho Young-wook.
Wook buried a low a shot past Glover after Harry Souttar inadvertently diverted the ball into his path having blocked a shot from the edge of the box.
The Koreans came out for the second-half in determined fashion and dominated possession as the Olyroos desperately clung on to their lead.
The Korean playmaker Lee Dong-gyeong, who was at the centre of everything positive for his side, finally found a way past Australia's Tottenham gloveman with a sweetly-struck first-time finish to level the scores.
"Over the whole tournament I couldn't be prouder of the boys," Graham Arnold said post-match.
"They have been away together for 16, 17 days and they haven't really had a day off, they've worked really hard and I am very proud to be their coach."
"I thought the first half was clearly one of our best halves of football [in qualifying]. When you are a new team and you are in a new environment, you play in bits and pieces and it is difficult to keep everything at a high standard for the full 90 minutes.
"I thought our first 55 minutes [against Korea Republic] was outstanding, and we've achieved the purpose of the trip which was to advance through to the next phase in Thailand," he said.
