World Cup qualifying disappointment
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Austria's national soccer team has suffered its first setback in the World Cup qualifiers. The ÖFB selection was beaten 1:0 (0:0) in Bucharest on Sunday after conceding a goal in the 95th minute. The blow was dealt to the Austrians by substitute central defender Virgil Ghita. After five wins in five games, Austria still lead Group H by two points from their nearest rivals Bosnia.
Theoretically, however, the Austrian team could still slip to third place in the remaining two rounds and thus not only miss out on a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup in North America, but also the play-off for second place in the group. Bosnia-Herzegovina now have World Cup participation back in their own hands, but would have to win against Romania on November 15 and against Austria in Vienna on November 18. The Austrians host Cyprus in their next match on November 15.
Romanians more dangerous There were the expected changes to the Austrian starting line-up. Alexander Schlager took over in goal from Patrick Pentz. In the back four, Philipp Lienhart and Phillipp Mwene replaced Kevin Danso and Alexander Prass three days after the record 10-0 win over San Marino. In attack, Christoph Baumgartner, who had to rest against San Marino due to heel problems, moved into the team and new ÖFB record goalscorer Marko Arnautovic onto the substitutes' bench. Michael Gregoritsch played as a solo striker.
More than 1,000 ÖFB fans and Austria's Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger were among the 39,581 spectators in the far from full Arena Nationala. They watched a match that was full of fighting, in which the Austrians had slightly more possession before the break, but the Romanians had the more dangerous scenes. Valentin Mihaila put a side-footed shot to the left of the goal (7'), as did Andrei Ratiu with a shot from distance (15').
Little or nothing came together offensively for the Austrian side. Romano Schmid put the only shot on goal wide (37'). David Alaba had to save from Romania's center forward Daniel Birligea after his teammate Lienhart lost a tackle (42'). The Romanians had more of a run on goal, but the home side did not create any really compelling chances in the first 45 minutes.
Cold shower in minute 95 The Austrians became a little more active after the break. Ionut Radu (49') parried a shot from Marcel Sabitzer to the near corner. Romania's goalkeeper was also alert to a Baumgartner pass towards Konrad Laimer (56'). However, the Romanians remained more dangerous: Mihaila hit a shot from 20 meters against the left bar (60'), Dennis Man shot over from a similar position (62').
ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick brought on Florian Grillitsch and Alexander Prass in the 65th minute. After Grillitsch lost the ball, Schlager had to summon all his skill to defuse a top chance from the advanced Andrei Ratiu (69'). The Austrians looked set to take the point from Bucharest before Ghita struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The central defender headed a cross from Romania captain Ianis Hagi into the net. He had previously got the better of Prass and the ÖFB team had only managed to clear his cross to Hagi.
The Austrians had won the first leg against the Romanians 2:1 in Vienna at the start of the qualifying campaign in June. The first World Cup appearance since 1998 is still within reach, but the ÖFB team will now be under a little more pressure in November. In Cyprus, captain Alaba and Mwene are also missing two players through suspension. Both defensive players received yellow cards in the second half in Bucharest with consequences.
The result:
Romania - Austria 1:0 (0:0)
Bucharest, Arena Națională, 39,581 spectators, SR Massa (ITA)
Goal: 1:0 (95') Ghita
Yellow cards: Burca, Mihaila or Baumgartner, Schmid, Mwene (suspended for the next match away against Cyprus), Alaba (suspended against Cyprus)
Romania: Radu - Ratiu, Popescu (72. Ghita), Burca, Chipciu - Hagi, M. Marin, Dragomir - Man, Birligea (88. Munteanu), Mihaila
Austria: A. Schlager - Posch, Lienhart, Alaba, Mwene (66. Prass) - Laimer, Seiwald - Schmid (86. Schöpf), Baumgartner (66. Grillitsch), Sabitzer - Gregoritsch (86. Florucz)
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