Late Brace! Perfect NL Start for Austria

A successful Nations League start for Austria!

The ÖFB team won their first appearance in League B against Israel at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz with a 3-1 score. Despite being numerically superior for a long time, they faced significant problems, with the decisive goals only coming in stoppage time.

Austria had a bit more possession in the opening minutes, but it took a while for the first goalscoring opportunity. The Rangnick team still lacked creative ideas in the final third.

In the 24th minute, the pressing worked well for once: The ÖFB team forced Israel, who squandered the ball in build-up play, into an error. The ball reached Patrick Wimmer via Xaver Schlager, but he failed to beat the keeper from a tight angle.

Austria improves - Gregoritsch forced off

After half an hour, the hosts grew stronger. First, Marco Grüll tried a long-range effort (31st minute), then Stefan Posch headed the ball just wide of the goal after a good Schlager cross (33rd minute).

Moments later, Michael Gregoritsch's debut as captain ended prematurely: The striker unluckily twisted his ankle, tried to continue playing, but then had to leave the field due to injury. Sasa Kalajdzic came on for him (36th minute).

Schmid cool from the spot

And the LASK attacker immediately made a decisive appearance. Kalajdzic was brought down in the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick. Romano Schmid calmly converted it into the right corner to give Austria the lead (43rd minute).

The teams thus went into halftime with a deserved 1-0 lead.

At halftime, coach Ralf Rangnick reacted for a second time, bringing on Paul Wanner for Grüll to add an extra creative element to the attack.

Abu Farchi scores and is sent off

The ÖFB team had their next good opportunity after a set-piece. Phillipp Lienhart, however, headed a Schmid corner just over the goal (53rd minute).

Less than two minutes later, it rang on the other side. Saied Abu Farchi stood unmarked after a cross and headed in for 1-1 (55th minute). However, because the striker celebrated with the corner flag afterwards, he received a second yellow card and was sent off (56th minute).

From then on, Austria almost exclusively dominated play with their numerical advantage. What was still lacking, however, was penetrative power against the visitors' deep block. Kalajdzic had the best chance with a header (70th minute).

Two debutants - Mwene redeems Austria

Rangnick reacted by bringing on two debutants, Christoph Lang and Sascha Horvath, fittingly in their home stadium.

The ÖFB team pinned Israel back in their own penalty area in the final phase, yet there were hardly any openings for chances.

In the 90th minute, the deadlock was finally broken: The advanced Phillipp Mwene was served a cross from Wanner to his foot and pushed the ball over the line (90th minute). It was the full-back's first-ever international goal.

And a short time later, Kalajdzic also scored to make it 3-1 and secure the important three points for the start of the Nations League.