THE ecstasy and the agony was clear for all to see in the players and the fans faces as Bahrain lost to a last-gasp winner in a World Cup qualifier to out-of-sorts Australia at the National Stadium.
Throughout the game the hoards of Aussie expats were silenced by a thrilling display by the boys of Bahrain - cheered on by a drum-beating, rhythmic chanting from noisy supporters - who did everything right last Wednesday but score.
The Socceroos were kept in the game time after time by an inspired goalkeeping display from Mark Schwarzer.
Mark Bresciano, who plies his trade with Italian Serie A side Palermo, scored the winner against the run of play in the last minute of injury time to break Bahrain hearts and put a smile back on the faces of the Aussie fans.
Australia and Japan look set to secure the top two positions in the fourth qualifying group round.
Bahrain is left with a glimmer of hope of a back-door entry by finishing third in the group and facing another play-off.
But first the strikers must get their goal-scoring touch back against Uzbekistan in the next fixture away on February 11.