Kyah Simon's late header saw Australia claim a deserved point as they opened their AFC U-19 Women's Championship Group B campaign with a 1-1 draw against Japan.
Mana Iwabuchi had given Japan a 66th minute lead with a spectacular strike but Simon (pictured) popped up two minutes from time to nod home Karina Roweth's cross and ensure a solid start for the Young Matildas.
Both teams enjoyed good possession in the opening 15 minutes but were unable to create any clear-cut chances.
Yuka Koda was looking dangerous down the right and the Japanese winger saw plenty of the ball until her evening was cut short early following a crunching tackle from Teresa Polias that resulted in her being stretchered off.
Opportunities were proving at a premium but Japan came closest to an opening goal on the half-hour mark.
Michi Goto's cutback from the byline found its way through to Nozomi Fujita but the midfielder saw her 20-yard strike deflected narrowly wide with keeper Casey Dumont helpless.
Norio Sasaki's side were looking the more threatening as the interval approached and Sawako Yasumoto got in front of her marker to meet Goto's cross first-time but sidefooted wide before Goto surged down the left and laid the ball back to Fujita but her looping shot from 10 yards was tipped over by Dumont.
Australia started the second-half the more determined but Elsie Kellond-Knight's long-range effort that drifted wide was all they had to show for their early endeavours.
Tameka Butt played in Tabain down the left-hand side of the area after 65 minutes but keeper Erina Yamane came out smartly to smother before Japan took the lead moments later in fine fashion, albeit somewhat against the run of play.
Iwabuchi picked the ball up on the left 25 yards out and let fly with a cracking drive that found the top corner and left Dumont with no chance.
They almost doubled their lead shortly afterwards when Goto and Fujita again combined down the flank and after the ball eventually arrived at the back post, substitute Akane Saito scuffed her shot when well-placed.
Australia spurned a great chance to equalise with just over quarter of an hour left when Yamane completely misjudged Kellond-Knight's corner but Polias headed agonisingly the wrong side of the back post.
Yasumoto was off target after her pace had created half an opening and Iwabuchi saw an effort balloon over the bar having been played in by the striker while at the other end, Simon's low curling pass cut through the Japan backline but substitute Ashleigh Sykes failed to connect.
Australia continued to press for an equaliser and Sykes' pace down the left caused havoc in the Japanese defence but they scrambled the ball away before Simon glanced a header wide.
But they claimed a deserved equaliser two minutes from the end when Simon met right-back Roweth's cross with a firm header that this time evaded Yamane's outstretched hand.