Plus ca change....for a while anyway, as Australia post much needed win.

In the end, it turned out all right. But only just, as Tony Popovic's new look Socceroos, at least for a half, did a more than passable impersonation of Graham Arnold's struggling old look team before posting a 3-1 win over China, their first win of a troubled third phase of World Cup qualifying.

When you talk incessantly about new upbeat vibes, new intensity, the excitement of a fresh beginning and the willingness of you and your team-mates to make good earlier disappointments, then the gods of football have a way of making you look stupid.

All week in Adelaide leading up to this crucial World Cup qualifier against China, the message from the Socceroos camp was clear: things were going to be different under new boss Popovic as Australia began the battle to rescue it's World Cup campaign.

Yes, player after player acknowledged, performances against Bahrain - a 1-0 home loss - and in the goalless draw in Indonesia had not been at the level required.

Yes, the creative spark had been lacking and of course everyone had to own up to their failings, take responsibility, believe in the new project and work hard to get things back on track.

China would surely be the ideal opponent in these circumstances as a new coach, only 19 days in the job, began the task of righting the stuttering ship Socceroo.

After all, they had conceded nine goals in two previous qualifiers and scored only once. They might be the world's most populous nation, but it is also fair to say they are probably the world's biggest footballing underachievers given their demographics, finances and political support.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Well, plenty, it transpired, as Popovic's alterations to the Socceroos’ shape and build up failed to find the gaps in a massed Chinese defence. Passes went astray, balls were miscontrolled, shots snatched at and opportunities - certainly of the clear cut fashion - rarely fashioned.

Even worse, they struggled to defend against an attack that had, in previous matches, had rarely been able to find the target.

Even though Australia had plenty of the ball in a first half which began in bright enough fashion they always looked vulnerable to sporadic Chinese attacks, usually the result of long balls launched more in hope than ambition, from deep positions.

And, given the hubris in the record Adelaide Oval Socceroos crowd of more than 46,000 - the inevitable occurred and China got the break they would have been hoping might have come only in their wildest dreams.

Twenty minutes had elapsed when goalkeeper Wang Dalei punted a long ball straight down the pitch in the direction of Zhang Yuning. The forward outjumped Thomas Deng and found Xie Wenneng who was able to dance round the lumbering centre back Harry Soutar to drive past Joe Gauci in the Australian goal.

Sheer disbelief was the prevailing mood as Popovic's side looked to get back into a game that seemed a foregone conclusion but was certainly not turning out that way - especially as Deng and Souttar experienced a few more uncomfortable moments as they had to deal with breaks from a China team intent on grimly preserving their unexpected advantaage.

Given their inability to find a way through from open play a set piece seemed the most likely route to parity for the Australians, and that's how it turned out when just before the interval Lewis Miller rose above a posse of Chinese defenders to nod Craig Goodwin’s delivery past Wang Dalei

The relief on the face of not just Popovic but also his two new assistants, Hayden Foxe and Paul Okon, was palpable.

What the hosts needed more than anything was an early second half goal to give them belief, settle their nerves and puncture the defiant mood of the Chinese players.

And that is what they got, courtesy of - who else - Goodwin, the definition of a hometown hero, who slammed home an absolute banger in the 53rd minute.

Goodwin picked up a pass from captain Jackson Irvine, took a touch, looked up and smashed home a tremendous drive from some 25 metres to send not just the crowd but his team-mates into raptures. In the case of the former it was a joyous experience, one suspects for the latter it was a mood of sheer relief.

Popovic had rung the changes at the interval, replacing Deng with Jason Geria and removing another local hero, Nestory Irunkunda, who was largely ineffective in his first start for the national team on home soil.

In his stead came Riley McGree, who had missed the first two qualifying matches with injury and whose presence was needed to provide the creative spark Australia had lacked.

Australia left it late - until stoppage time - but managed to find that third goal that would ease all their concerns and critically give them a positive goal difference as they head to Japan for an altogether more difficult assignment in Saitama next week.

Substitute Nishan Velupillay struck sweetly from inside the penalty area after a tired China failed to clear another attack giving the young Melbourne Victory forward a goal on his international debut.

Goodwin, not surprisingly but perfectly deservedly, was named player of the match.

For Popovic and the Socceroos it is to be hoped that this game was the equivalent of that awkward first date. Now that both parties want to continue the relationship sterner tests await, with perhaps the toughest looming in Saitama next week.

Australia can get a result there, but they will have to be sounder at the back, tactically disciplined and sharp enough to take one of what are likely to be few chances that come their way.