Nations League
LIVE from 6pm: Austria’s final against Slovenia
Austria's national soccer team finished the Nations League Group 3 of League B in second place and will therefore have to fight for promotion back to the top division in March! A 1-1 draw against Slovenia on Sunday saw the ÖFB team miss out on first place, two points behind Norway.
Romano Schmid put the hosts ahead in front of 46,000 spectators at the sold-out Happel Stadium in Vienna (27'), Adam Gnezda Cerin equalized (81').
Another points loss after three wins in a row
The ÖFB team dropped points again after three wins in a row and also failed to record nine wins in a year for the first time ever.
Nevertheless, a total of 32 goals were scored in 2024 - more than ever before in a calendar year. At least one goal has been scored in 26 of the last 27 international matches.
First scoring chance of the match by Laimer
Before kick-off, outgoing U21 team boss Werner Gregoritsch was honored. The first shot on goal came from a former protégé in the youth team - Konrad Laimer tested Slovenia's star goalkeeper Jan Oblak (14th). Seconds earlier, Marko Arnautovic had failed to place his header correctly from Marcel Sabitzer's cross.
This duo were new to the starting line-up compared to the 2-0 win in Kazakhstan on Thursday, as were Patrick Pentz, Phillipp Mwene and Maximilian Wöber. The latter slipped into the starting eleven at short notice due to Gernot Trauner's illness.
ÖFB pressing machine with lapses
The Austrians struggled in the early stages. Slovenia stood deep and often played long balls, which meant that the Austrian pressing machine did not really get going.
However, the first real moment of transition was exploited to the full. Wöber sent Christoph Baumgartner on his way from his own sixteen-yard box, whose pass was used by Schmid to make it 1:0.
Rangnick's team clearly dominate after the opening goal
Ralf Rangnick's team clearly dominated from this point on at the latest. Baumgartner missed from a good position (30') and failed to beat Oblak (35'), Sabitzer hit the outside of the net (45').
The second half began with misses from Baumgartner (51st, 58th) and Sabitzer (61st, 64th). A penalty appeal by Baumgartner had no consequences (62'). At the other end, Benjamin Sesko had the first Slovenian attempt on goal, but Pentz had no problems (55').
Slovenia without much of a chance until the 81st minute
The Austrians continued to keep the pressure on, but no more compelling chances emerged. They did not allow their opponents any chances for a long time - until the 81st minute.
After a failed clearance from Pentz, Zan Karnicnik played the ball into the middle and Gnezda Cerin was lucky not to hit the ball properly, making it 1:1.
The ÖFB team will now move on to the play-off for promotion to League A in March 2025. Their opponents will be a third-placed team from the top division, with the draw taking place on Friday. The draw for the World Cup qualifiers will then take place on December 13.
The result:
Austria - Slovenia 1:1 (1:0)
Vienna, Ernst Happel Stadium, 46,000 spectators (sold out), referee Nyberg (SWE)
Goals: 1:0 (27') Schmid, 1:1 (81') Gnezda Čerin
Yellow cards: Laimer or Brekalo, Gnezda Cerin
Austria: Pentz - Posch, Lienhart, Wöber, Mwene - Seiwald, Laimer (90. Grillitsch) - Schmid (84. Gregoritsch), Baumgartner, Sabitzer - Arnautovic (90. Wimmer)
Slovenia: Oblak - Karnicnik, Brekalo, Bijol, Janza - Stojanovic (64. Petrovic), Gnezda Cerin, Elsnik (81. Lovric), Mlakar (81. Sporar) - Vipotnik (91. Drkusic), Sesko
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