At the top of Group C with a nine-point cushion, sailing serenely towards the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026, are Japan, who have only dropped two points, at home to Australia last month.
Behind them is an almighty scramble with Australia, on seven points, leading the other four teams on six, all from six games apiece.
Of those only China have won more than once, and they are bottom, on goal difference, having also lost four times. Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, like Australia, have one win, but only three draws to Australia's four.
The Socceroos should have put clear space between themselves and the chasing pack in Riffa, having led Bahrain for more than 70 minutes and looked very comfortable.
But two goals in 140 seconds by Mahdi Abduljabbar, both with a freakish element, but also borne of mistakes, turned the match upside down. Australia desperately went forward in search of an equaliser and in the 96th minute Kusini Yengi, whose first goal had come in the opening minute, found one.
Inside 3�⃣8�⃣ seconds. 💥— Portsmouth FC (@Pompey) #Pompey's Kusini Yengi opens the scoring for the @Socceroos against Bahrain. 🇦🇺pic.twitter.com/26updxzl9uNovember 19, 2024
Yengi, who now has six international goals, all in this qualifying competition, from 11 appearances, also hit the post from close range and fluffed an even better chance.
"It was good," Popovic said of the Portsmouth striker's display.
"He's there to score goals so getting a couple of goals ... [but] I'd have liked him to score the chance at 1-0 when the ball was cut back, because that would have been game over."
For 74 minutes it was the perfect away qualifying performance: score early, keep the ball, control the game. Maty Ryan, picked for the first time under Popovic, had not made a save.
Then Cameron Burgess mis-controlled a hopeful punt forward and Abduljabbar lashed the loose ball over Ryan from 45-yards.
All too soon Hayden Matthews blotted an otherwise impressive debut by allowing a cross to skim off his head onto the far post, with the rebound falling fortuitously to Abduljabbar.
"He's a young boy coming through, playing in difficult conditions here," said Popovic of the Sydney FC defender.
"I thought he equipped himself really well. He was unfortunate with the second goal but he's got a bright future."
What is going on!?!? 👀— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) Just like that and the @Socceroos trail with 12 minutes to go. Can they strike back late?Catch all the action of #BHRvAUS live and exclusive on Paramount+ 📺 pic.twitter.com/7dGIwc9NbTNovember 19, 2024
Picking him was a bold decision and it almost came off. Catapulted into the job to revive a faltering qualifying campaign Popovic has not had the benefit of friendlies in which to learn about his players and experiment with formations; instead there have been four qualifiers in five weeks, most dubbed "must-win".
Now he has until March, and another "must-win" game against an Indonesian side eyeing a first World Cup since 1938 when they competed as the Dutch East Indies.
Until then there will be a lot of live matches seen and recordings dissected, especially a match that Popovic felt was ultimately "a good point" that reflected well on the team's character.
With four qualifiers left, at the end of which Australia could be through, out, or facing another qualifying hurdle, he will need that character, more goals from Yengi, and fewer errors.
