* Govt claims miraculous result, but unclear if can form majority
* Morrison govt polls strongly in Queensland state
* Labor leader to step down (Adds comment from White House about Trump call to Morrison)
By Tom Westbrook, Melanie Burton and Jonathan Barrett
SYDNEY/MELBOURNE, May 19 (Reuters) - Australia's Liberal-led conservative government was headed for a remarkable win at the national election early on Sunday after uncovering a narrow path to victory that twisted through urban fringes and rural townships.
The results upended pre-election polls which predicted a Labor victory, though it is unclear whether the Scott Morrison-led coalition can govern with an outright majority or will need to negotiate support from independents.
The final result may not be known for some time.
"I have always believed in miracles," Morrison told cheering supporters at Sydney's Wentworth Hotel, where the government holds its official election night function.
"Tonight is not about me or it's not about even the Liberal party. Tonight is about every single Australian who depends on their government to put them first."
The conservative government has won or is leading in 72 seats in its quest for a 76-seat majority, according to the Australian Electoral Commission, with just over two-thirds of votes counted.
Several seats are still too close to call and the final result is complicated by a large number of early votes that have delayed counting.
Morrison's coalition defied expectations by holding onto a string of outer suburban seats in areas where demographics closest resemble America's Rust Belt, blocking Labor's path to victory.
This included a devastating result in the coal-rich state of Queensland, which backed the Pentecostal church-going prime minister by defying expectations and delivering several marginal seats to his government.
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Morrison and congratulated him, the White House said. "The two leaders reaffirmed the critical importance of the long-standing alliance and friendship between the United States and Australia, and they pledged to continue their close cooperation on shared priorities," it said.
SOMBRE DEFEAT
Voters on Saturday cast their ballots for Morrison's message of support to aspirational voters and turned their back on Labor leader Bill Shorten's reforms.
"I know that you're all hurting and I am too," Shorten told supporters at the party's Melbourne election night function.
"And without wanting to hold out any false hope, while there are still millions of votes to count and important seats yet to be finalised, it is obvious that Labor will not be able to form the next government."