Socceroos striker John Aloisi gave his side a well-deserved first half lead from the penalty spot, but Agogo punished a mix-up between Mark Schwarzer and Patrick Kisnorbo to equalise late on at Loftus Road.

Australia coach Graham Arnold will have taken encouragement from the way his team dominated against a Ghana side who are above them in the FIFA world rankings, but that defensive lapse has given him plenty to work on as he builds for next year's Asian Cup.

Arnold had promised to use the match to herald a new era for the national team by blooding several young talents.

However he started with a familiar looking side featuring ten members of the successful World Cup squad, with Leicester defender Kisnorbo the only starter not to have featured in Germany.

Craig Moore was back in the fold after missing the Asian Cup qualifying win against Bahrain following a disagreement with Arnold over his failure to attend a training session.

But Newcastle defender Moore was unable to win back the captaincy as Parma's Vince Grella took over the armband.

Arnold was already without injured stars Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka, so the loss of Everton midfielder Tim Cahill and Blackburn defender Lucas Neil to injuries suffered in the previous weekend's Premiership matches was an unneeded blow.

Those absences didn't seem to affect the Socceroos unduly and they went close to scoring in the first minute when Mile Sterjovski forced a fine save from Richard Kingson.

Although the 24th-placed Ghanaians are 13 rungs above Australia in the rankings that disparity was never apparent.

Roared on by a large following that made up around two thirds of the crowd Australia dominated early on and Jason Culina tested Kingson with long-range strikes twice in quick succession, only to see the Ghana keeper deny him on both occasions.

Michael Essien caused a panic in the Australia defence when he met Laryea Kingston's corner with a header that looped just over.

But Australia looked the move threatening side and deservedly went in front in the 26th minute.

Aloisi brushed aside Francis Dickoh's weak challenge and, as he prepared to shoot, the Ghana defender sent him crashing to the floor with a badly mistimed tackle.

Alaves striker Aloisi picked himself up and calmly stroked the spot-kick past Kingson to open the scoring.

Australia weren't content just to defend their lead and Luke Wilkshire's diving header from Brett Emerton's cross drew a smart save from Kingson.

Moore must have thought he had scored Australia's second when he met Mark Bresciano's corner with a powerful header that appeared destined for the top corner, but Kingson somehow managed to claw the ball out from under his crossbar.

Ghana captain Stephen Appiah, winning his 50th cap, was instrumental in the Africans raising their tempo at the start of the second half and he set up Kingston, who was just off-target with a long-range effort.

Emerton ensured Australia weren't on the back foot for too long when he rifled a right-foot shot that Kingson turned away for a corner.

Ghana coach Claude Le Roy Sent on Asamoah Gyan for the closing stages and the decision played almost immediate dividends as the winger set up his side's 74th minute equaliser.

Gyan whipped in a cross from the goal-line and Schwarzer fumbled as he collided with Kisnorbo, giving Nottingham Forest forward Agogo the simple task of tapping in from close range.