Republic of Ireland 2 - 2 Austria

Austria’s David Alaba broke Irish hearts on Tuesday night when his last minute strike cancelled out two Jonathan Walters goals to give Austria a share of the spoils against the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

There was barely a minute on the clock when Austria had the first chance of the game. A free-kick 35 yards from the Irish goal wouldn’t have been seen as a threat - until David Alaba stepped up. With a Cristiano Ronaldo-esque set up, the Bayern Munich man dipped a shot over the wall and only inches wide of David Forde’s right-hand post.

Austria looked dangerous from the start and after just ten minutes, they took a deserved lead. Ciaran Clark was caught dawdling on the ball in his own half, allowing Zlatko Junozovic to nick it from him. The Austrian number ten ran straight at the Irish defence before squaring to Martin Harnik who took a touch and calmly slotted past David Forde.

The goal seemed to rattle Ireland. Austria, on the other hand, were playing with the confidence of a side that has scored ten goals in their last two games. Giovanni Trapattoni was on the edge of his technical area trying to relax his players who were giving the ball away far too easily and allowing Austria the opportunity to create chances.

Despite the Austrian pressure Ireland were given a lifeline after 23 minutes in the shape of a penalty. Shane Long dribbled to the Austrian end-line before being brought down by Emanuel Pogatetz as he tried to turn. It was the right decision from the referee and it allowed Jonathan Walters to step up and power home from 12 yards.

Ireland were back in the game and the goal seemed to breathe new life into them. Suddenly their passing became much crisper and more precise. The nerves that were there for the first quarter of the game seemed to have dissipated as they began to perform more like the side that played in Stockholm on Friday night.

James McClean was a constant thorn in the side of the Austrian full-back- Gyorgy Garics. The former Derry City man’s marauding runs down the left-wing were producing good crosses into the box but neither Sammon, nor any other Irish player, could make the most of them.

That nearly changed on 38 minutes however. A long ball from David Forde was flicked on by Sammon and then Long to the feet of McClean. He volleyed back across goal to Long who, with his back to goal, had to try to back-heel it into the net from six yards. However, his flick hit the post.

As the snow began to come down on the Aviva Stadium, Ireland piled the pressure on Austria. A string of corners in quick succession eventually paid dividends when Glenn Whelan’s ball into the box was headed in by Jonathan Walters for his second goal of the evening.

The Boys in Green came out with the same vigour in the second half as they looked to push further ahead. James McClean almost had the goal he deserved after 46 minutes when he curled a free-kick inches wide of the top corner.

A lax Seamus Coleman back-pass on 53 minutes nearly caused Ireland problems but David Forde was alert to the danger. Forde was again called into action minutes later when he dived low to save a Martin Harnik shot from the edge of the box.

Austria continued to pressure the Ireland goal and Emanuel Pogatetz went close on 55 minutes when he hit a volley narrowly wide.

Austria were coming back into the game and dominating possession, at one stage enjoying 87% of it over a five minute spell. The introduction of 6 foot 5 inch Marc Janko on 62 minutes showed their intent to try and get back into the game.

However, it was Ireland who came closest five minutes later. A cross and then a corner into the box from James McClean nearly led to a third goal. The first attempt was pushed over the bar by Heinz Linder and the second flashed just wide of the post when met by the head of Marc Wilson.

As the half wore on Austria began to pepper the Ireland box with crosses and high balls aimed for Janko. However, Ireland were dealing with them well as Sean St. Ledger and John O’Shea continually headed clear.

It was not until the final minute of injury time that Austria struck to break Irish hearts. David Alaba, who had been a constant threat all night, took control of the ball 25 yards from goal. With no defender closing him down he curled a shot over David Forde and into the Irish net.

It was a cruel end for Ireland but one that can’t be taken away from Austria. They laid siege to the Irish goal for the majority of the second half and eventually got their reward. If Ireland don’t manage to qualify for Brazil in 2014 this result could be looked back on as a pivotal one. 

Republic of Ireland: David Forde; Seamus Coleman, John O’Shea (C), Ciarán Clark (Sean St. Ledger, 73), Marc Wilson; Jonathan Walters, Glenn Whelan, James McCarthy, James McClean; Shane Long (Paul Green, 83), Conor Sammon.
Subs not used: Keiren Westwood, Darren Randolph; Darren O’Dea, Stephen Kelly, Wes Hoolahan,  Andy Keogh, Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady, Kevin Doyle, Simon Cox.

Booked: James McCarthy (21), John O’Shea (35), Shane Long (81)

Austria: Heinz Linder; Gyorgy Garics, Aleksandar Dragovic, Emanuel Pogatetz, Christian Fuchs (C); Marco Arnautovic, David Alaba, Zlatko Junozovic (Julian Baumgartlinger, 25), Martin Harnik, Veli Kavlak; Philipp Hosiner (Marc Janko, 61).
Subs not used: Ramazan Ozcan; Lukas Konigshofer, Andreas Ivanschitz, Andreas Weimann, Markus Suttner, Sebastian Prodl, Jakob Jantscher, Florian Klein, Christoph Leitgeb, Manuel Ortlechner.

Booked: Veli Kavlak (42)

Referee: Marijo Strahonja (Croatia).

Attendance: 36,100 (estimate).

Extratime.ie man of the match: James McClean (Rep Ireland) - He was a constant threat to the Austrian defence down the left-wing.