Uefa Nations League B3: Northern Ireland 1-2 Austria
GOAL-Schlager provided the first headache for Northern Ireland and Valentino then stunned even the usually raucous home fans into silence.
A game that started with a roar after a warm minute’s applause for Derek McKinley, NI’s kit man for 30 years up until 2011, ended with only the Austrians making noise.
Those who suggested that this competition was pointless would at least be accurate in one regard for Michael O’Neill’s men, who sank to their fourth loss – yet another undeserved defeat.
Northern Ireland are sick and tired of seeing this same show, played out to a hard-to-believe, or certainly hard-to-take script: performing pretty well and creating chances, but losing out in the end – and this time it was the very end, into the third minute of added time after two minutes had been announced.
That winner was a handsome one, admittedly, curled in by left winger Valentino Lazaro, finishing off a superb counter-attack orchestrated by the Austrians’ two really top players, David Alaba and Marko Arnautovic, who had come off the bench after 70 minutes to lift his side.
Their opener by Xaver Schlager was sweetly struck too, and also involved a substitute. The visitors had sent Peter Zulj into midfield for the second half and, in a combination which would only have been more wonderful in ‘Scrabble’, he soon cut the ball back from the left for Schlager to sweep a low left-footed shot into the far corner of the net.
'FFS' or ‘Here we go again’ might have been the disheartened reaction of the hosts, having had the better of the first half, but instead they decided ‘we go again’ and showed great spirit to get their first goal since Will Grigg’s late leveller in the opening game of this new tournament.
There was some long overdue luck involved, admittedly, but good football too. George Saville won the ball back from a Liam Boyce lay-off, found Jordan Jones on the left, and he released Corry Evans, who steadied himself before shooting low and seeing his shot loop in off the sliding Martin Hinteregger.
Evans had earlier swiped at one chance and inadvertently got in the way of a Niall McGinn shot, so some positive fortune was timely for player and team.
Even had this match mattered O’Neill might have made alterations in an attempt to end their goal drought. Only Jonny Evans, Stuart Dallas, skipper Steven Davis, and George Saville also started the reverse fixture in Vienna
There weren’t too many, if any, fresh faces, perhaps only right-back Michael Smith in that category, and he started in Dublin. The others brought in from the last meeting with Austria were goalkeeper Trevor Carson, veteran centre half Gareth McAuley, Corry Evans, and the front three of Niall McGinn, Liam Boyce, and Jones.
Austria boss Franco Foda made five changes, again mostly from midfield up – in came centre half Aleksandar Dragovic, midfielder Julian Baumgartlinger (as captain), the versatile David Alaba, and attackers Schlager and Michael Gregoritsch.
O’Neill’s selections are always hard to predict, especially so ahead of a ‘dead rubber’ – and he clearly didn’t offer any hints even to the in-house media. The programme cover featured two left-sided home players, Jamal Lewis and Shane Ferguson – but the former wasn’t even in the squad and the latter did not come off the bench; instead, Dallas and Jones lined out on that flank.
However, with an article inside about ‘serendipity’, there was also a feature on the international career of the younger Evans – including how long he’d gone since his first goal.
Over eight years, 44 matches, and more than 2,900 minutes – and even then it took a deflection to help his shot over goalkeeper Heinz Lindner, although at least it was on target.
All the alterations had made for an attacking line-up from the hosts, with Dallas at left-back and Smith providing width on the other flank, although he had his hands full containing Alaba.
Somewhat surprisingly, Davis was the deepest-lying of the home midfielders, and although this allowed him room to fulfil his ‘director of football operations’ role, he was often too far from goal to cause real damage.
Consequently, NI continued to look most likely to score from set pieces, with their final ball lacking precision from open play.
They did begin brightly, pushing up high, and the lively Boyce forced an opening for the younger Evans but his doubly deflected shot, although looping awkwardly, was tipped over the bar.
McGinn hit the top of the net with a free kick before the break, so when the hosts hit the right side of the net with that 56th minute leveller the ‘Green and White Army’ understandably went wild - but Austria still posed a significant threat. Alaba twice had sights of goal, first shooting narrowly wide, then blazing way over.
O’Neill made a double attacking change as the game neared its final quarter hour, sending on Kyle Lafferty – to a huge roar – and Gavin Whyte, replacing Boyce and McGinn, although it was Saville who shot inches wide.
The warning signs were also there at the other end when Arnautovic shimmied into the box in the first minute of added time, only to be dispossessed by McAuley.
Still, Jones seemed set to provide a carbon copy assist of the first goal but misplaced his pass – and Austria struck with a sickening sucker punch.
A hoofed clearance came to Dallas, but he dallied on the ball and was robbed by Alaba, who skipped past Jonny Evans, before finding Arnautovic.
He switched play to Lazaro, who teed the ball up before bending it beyond Carson’s dive. No sort of backstop could have saved the north from that.
Northern Ireland (4-3-3): Carson; Smith, McAuley, J Evans, Dallas; Davis (capt.), Saville, C Evans (McNair, 88); McGinn (Whyte, 74), Boyce (Lafferty, 74), Jones.
Substitutes not used: McGovern, Hazard, McLaughlin, Thompson, Ferguson, Hughes, Vassell, Cathcart, Magennis.
Austria (4-2-3-1): Lindner; Lainer, Dragovic, Hinteregger, Ulmer; Ilsanker (Zulj, h-t), Baumgartlinger; Lazaro, Schlager, Alaba; Gregoritsch (Arnautovic, 70).
Substitutes not used: Strebinger, Stankovic, Wimmer, Goiginger, Schaub, Kainz, Schopf, Hierlander, Janko.
Referee: Jonathan Lardot (Belgium).
Attendance: 17,895.
Northern Ireland player ratings
Trevor Carson: Brave and confident receiving back passes and playing the ball out. Made one scrambling save from Gregoritsch and made another late stop at the second attempt – had no chance to prevent either goal. 6.5
Michael Smith: A committed display from the Hearts man, offering himself as a wide option going forward, then tucking in well when without the ball. Did well enough against the quality of Alaba, who set up the winner from the other side of the pitch. 7
Gareth McAuley: Made a poor header early on – not a phrase I’ve ever used before about him - and was caught in possession by Schlager but grew into the game. Provided his usual threat from set pieces and made an important late penalty box tackle on Arnautovic. 6
Jonny Evans: Yet another classy display, both on the back and front foot. Alert to deny Gregoritsch a shooting chance, made a fine tackle on Schlager, and used possession well. Alaba eluded him at the last, though, in the counter-attack for the winner. 7.5
Stuart Dallas: Generally played very well, getting forward from left-back with forceful runs and doing his defensive duties well – until the very end, when he was caught in possession by Alaba, leading to the winner. 7
Steven Davis: With Olly Norwood suspended, operated deeper in midfield and pulled the strings at first. Understandably tired a little late on due his lack of club action but still made a good defensive interception in the closing stages. 6.5
George Saville: Partly at fault for the opening goal but soon made amends, turning the ball over to start the move for the equaliser. Came close to scoring himself with a left-footed effort. 7
Corry Evans: Played further forward than might have been anticipated given his poor scoring return but his advanced positioning paid off with the equaliser, when he showed composure to deserve his luck. 7
Niall McGinn: Usually so lively on the move, offered more from dead balls – delivering one good free kick from the left, then almost scoring with a dipping effort just before the break. Replaced by Whyte. 6.5
Liam Boyce: Worked hard as ever in leading the line but little worked out for him. Forced an early opening for Corry Evans, then was unlucky when a Jones through-pass struck him on the back of his heel. Might have done better when McGinn sent in a good free-kick. Taken off for Lafferty. 6
Jordan Jones: Almost sent Boyce in on goal with a neat pass. Showed his pace, but then too often preferred to cut back onto his right foot – although that worked out very well for the equaliser. However, his misplaced pass at the death led to the killer blow of Austria’s winner. 7
Substitutes:
Kyle Lafferty: Came on to a huge roar and put in an early challenge, also won a free kick with his strength in the air. 6
Gavin Whyte: Never really got into the game. 5
Paddy McNair: Not on long enough to be rated.
