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A stunning scorpion-kick finish by Alou Kuol has helped Australia to a 1-1 draw against Iraq in the group stages of the Asian Under-23 Cup in Uzbekistan.

Whizz-kid Alou Kuol has lit up the Asian Under-23 Cup in Uzbekistan with a stunning strike in Australia's 1-1 draw against Iraq.

The German-based 20-year-old somehow managed to score with a scorpion kick in first-half stoppage time in Qarshi on Saturday as the Olyroos claimed a point despite playing most of the game with 10 men following Kusini Yengi's early red card.

Josh Rawlins' cross from the right seemed to be too far behind Kuol to be a threat but the former Central Coast striker curled his right foot behind him to steer the ball into the net in spectacular fashion.

"Happy to get the goal," Kuol said in a post by Football Australia on Twitter.

"Don't ask me how I done it."

Iraq struck back to level the scores in the 56th minute when Hasan Abdulkareem equalised.

Australia thought they had stolen the points late on when awarded a penalty only for the decision to be overturned by VAR.

After beating Kuwait 2-0 in their opening fixture, Australia are sitting on four points after two games and need just a point from their final group stage match against Jordan to advance to the quarter-finals.