Australia got their Asian Cup qualifying campaign back on track on Wednesday as Tim Cahill's late strike secured a crucial win over Oman in Melbourne.

Cahill fired home Scott Chipperfield's cross at the near post with 15 minutes remaining at Etihad Stadium as Pim Verbeek's charges recorded a first win in Group B after losing to Kuwait and drawing with Indonesia.

The win lifts the 2007 quarter-finalist to the top of the table with an identical record with Oman, although with Kuwait just a point adrift and Indonesia a further point back both with a game in hand on the leaders, the two qualifying places for Qatar 2011 are still up for grabs.

Oman were not put off by Australia's virtually full strength line-up and dominated the first half.

Fawzi Basheer rattled the Australia post after 23 minutes from a tight angle before Hassan Al Hosni blazed over with only Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to beat just three minutes later.

Harry Kewell's well-struck long-range shot on the stroke of half-time was the only real highlight for Australia in the opening 45 minutes.

But with their qualification hopes hanging in the balance, Australia improved in the second half.

With time running out, Chipperfield's left wing cross went through the legs of striker Josh Kennedy before Cahill turned in his 19th international goal in just 36 appearances via the far post.