Marco Bresciano gave the Socceroos the lead in the 19th minute after good work by Harry Kewell and Leeds United striker Mark Viduka which opened the Reggae Boyz defence, but no sooner had the Aussie's kicked off again when the Jamaicans where on level terms thanks to the out of favour Charlton Athletic striker Kevin Lisbie who tapped home a shot past Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer in the Aussie goal.
Gardner, Trevor Benjamin and Ricardo Fuller all had chances to increase the Reggae Boyz lead but it was the heroics of goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts at the other end which kept the scoreline down.
Liverpool striker Kewell won the game for the Aussies on 58 minutes when his speed took him away from the defensive trio of Frank Sinclair, Tyrone Marshall and Craig Zaidie before firing past the impressive Ricketts.
Bolton's Gardner played the whole game and was booked late on whilst fellow club mate Johnson came on as substitute on the hour mark replacing Preston North End striker Fuller.
Jamaica-- Donovan Ricketts, Craig Ziadie, Frank Sinclair, Tyrone Marshall (Onandi Lowe 77th), Michael Johnson, Omar Daley, Ricardo Gardner, Ricardo Fuller (Jermaine Johnson - 46th), Barry Hayles (Fabian Taylor 69th), Trevor Benjamin (Damion Stewart 59th) and Kevin Lisbie (Jamal Campbell-Ryce 79th).
Booked: Gardner (73rd)
Australia -- Mark Schwarzer (Zeljko Kalac - 46th), Kevin Muscatt, Tony Vidmar, Lucas Neill, Paul Okon, Harry Kewell, Josip Skoko, Marco Bresciano, Steve Laybutt, Scott Chipperfield and Mark Viduka (Mile Sterjovski 85th).
Booked: Laybutt (23rd)
Referee: Andy D'Urso
Assistants: A Green and R Desmond
Fourth Official: L Cable