(AAP)The Socceroos are through to next year's Asian Cup finals at their first attempt.

But it took two late moments of magic from 26-year-old Adelaide United debutant Travis Dodd to down unfancied Kuwait 2-0 in an otherwise unconvincing display at Sydney's Aussie Stadium.

Australia 2 (Travis Dodd 75’, Sasho Petrovski 86’) defeated Kuwait 0

Australian line-up: Clint Bolton, Michael Valkanis, Kevin Muscat (c), Jade North, Alvin Ceccoli, Mark Milligan, Steve Corica (Matthew McKay 90’), Travis Dodd, David Carney, Archie Thompson (Alex Brosque 69’), Joel Griffiths (Sasho Petrovski 56’).

Dodd scored one goal in the 75th minute and set up another for substitute Sasho Petrovski in the 86th as the Australians made hard work of beating a team of part-timers ranked 100th in the world.

It was their first Asian Cup match on home soil, and their first of the post-Guus Hiddink era.

And what a far cry it was from the euphoria of the World Cup in Germany in June.

The Socceroos, composed entirely of domestic A-League players in the absence of their European-based stars, were fielding one of their most inexperienced sides of all time - and it showed.

Two of the starting 11 were making their debut, three had played only once before in the national colours, and midfielder Steve Corica and goalkeeper Clint Bolton had not represented their country for five years.

For most of the night the novices looked unlikely to break down the amateurs.

Only in the final 15 minutes did the fitness of Australia's home-grown professionals take its toll, and when it did they ran away with the game.

FORZA AUSTRALIA