Mixed emotions for Heffernan

Australia's 2-2 Asian Cup qualification draw with Kuwait was bittersweet for defender Dean Heffernan.

Australia's 2-2 Asian Cup qualification draw with Kuwait was bittersweet for defender Dean Heffernan.

The 29-year-old scored his first goal in just his second appearance for the Qantas Socceroos, but he was not satisfied with the result considering Australia was 2-0 up after five minutes.

Luke Wilkshire latched on to a rebounding ball three minutes in for his second goal in as many games before Heffernan slotted from close range when the Kuwaiti defence failed to deal with a free kick.

"I just pushed forward for the corner and it got knocked down and I had a real lash at it and put it in the back of the net, so I was really happy." said Heffernan.

Heffernan said the Qantas Socceroos defence, led by skipper Craig Moore, regrouped after going two up in the expectation that the Kuwaitis, urged on by their home fans, would rebound strongly.

"We were playing a nice, high line and there was a lot of communication going on," he said.

"Moorey led us well in the centre of the defence and we were just unlucky on the night with a couple of goals going in which let two points slip."

"In a way we gave it away but we battled our way through it."

"In the end, it's a point, but it's probably two points lost at the same time."

Asked whether a team in Australia's position can be disadvantaged by scoring early, Heffernan said: "Yeah, sometimes, but I think we went on with it and we had some more chances after that."

"But, in the end, when they got one goal the crowd got behind them and they lifted."

The result leaves Australian needing a draw or better in its match against Indonesia in Brisbane in March to qualify for next year's tournament in Qatar.

Kuwait leads the qualifying group on eight points, ahead of Australia on goal difference and one point clear of Oman.