World Cup 2018 Qualifier Report: Austria 0 - 1 Republic of Ireland

Macdara Ferris reporting from Vienna.

Martin O’Neill’s men pulled off a famous victory in Vienna on Saturday evening thanks to James McClean’s superbly taken second half counter-attacking goal. The Boys in Green beat Austria away from home for the very first time – their first victory over them since 1963 - and moved six points clear of the second seeds in Group D of the Russia 2018 qualifiers.

It could well be a case of goodnight Vienna for Austria’s chances of qualifying as Ireland go into the winter international break top of the group. It was an historic qualifier win as the Boys in Green beat a true rival team for qualification away from home for the first time since the victory over Scotland in 1987. It was a backs-to-wall performance as would be expected but one that was ultimately deserved.

It was the 3,250 Irish away fans in the Ernst Happel Stadium who were celebrating at the end. They sung along to U2’s ‘Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking for’ being played over the PA as the Boys in Green had found a crucial three points in their qualification quest for the World Cup.

O’Neill deployed his team with a midfield diamond but had to change his plans mid-way through the half when Glenn Whelan went off injured. James McClean was playing just off Jon Walters up front with Whelan in the central holding role in front of the back four. However when David Meyler came on, O’Neill switched to a more orthodox 4-2-3-1 system with McClean pushed wide left.

The game had begun with a succession of early Austria corners as the home team put the Boys in Green under considerable early pressure. Both Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick were forced into conceding the setpieces which David Alaba swung into the box. Darren Randolph was commanding in his area particularly when he stood up to and saved Marc Janko’s shot from one such corner.

Marcel Sabitzer caused Ireland a fair bit of difficulty during the game. When Wes Hoolahan lost the ball to Marko Arnautovic on five minutes Austria broke. While Ciaran Clark put in a timely tackle on the edge of the area the ball came available to Austria but Sabitzer’s shot along the ground fizzed wide.

McClean was Ireland’s most potent threat going forward throughout the match. He pressurized Florian Kiein into an error allowing McClean to get a shot away that only failed to hit the target thanks to a deflection.

At the other end Janko got a couple of opportunities. Sabitzer swapped passes on the edge of the box and his chipped cross came to Janko but his weak header went readily to Randolph. Janko then ballooned a chance over the bar as Ireland switched formations.

It wasn’t the most pleasing game on the eye but chances did still come at either end. Jon Walters headed goalwards when maybe Shane Duffy was better placed behind him and then came a goal saving tackle from Ireland captain Seamus Coleman. He blocked Marko Arnautovic's goal bound shot to huge cheers from the travelling support.

As the half came to a close there were two glorious chances at either end. There was a major let off for Ireland as Sabitzer’s dinked shot over Randolph came off the bar. The danger wasn’t over and it required Ciaran Clark to clear with Janko set to side foot home.

A minute from the break a brilliant cross from Robbie Brady on the left came to the onrushing Walters in the six yard box but his outstretched boot put it inches over the bar.

Ireland took the game to the host team straight from the off in the second half. McClean made it three goals in his last two international games with a superbly taken goal on the break three minutes into the second period.

Meyler won the ball way back in the corner and broke free. He looked up and delayed his pass to Wes Hoolahan who turned and sought McClean on the left. He broke into the box and his drilled left foot shot went through Ramazan Ozcan's legs to give Ireland the lead.

They had the ball in the net again a few minutes later as Walters headed home a Brady freekick but the Stoke man was in an offside position. Sabitzer was required to lump the ball off his line from another corner as Ireland sought their second.

Alaba’s shot from distance mid-way through the half had Randolph flying through the air but it clipped the net just above the crossbar as it flew over. Janko really should have done better with a header in the closing minutes as they looked to level things but Ireland stood firm.

Randolph held onto a late Austria shot, punched a cross clear in injury time and watched on as somehow Janko missed a free header in the six yard box as he kept the all important clean sheet. The win means everything to Ireland. Oh Vienna!

Austria: Ramazan Ozcan; Florian Klein, Aleksander Dragovic, Martin Hinteregger (Stefan Ilsanker 78), Kevin Wimmer; Julian Baumgartlinger (c), David Alaba; Marcel Sabitzer (Martin Harnik 72), Alessandro Schopf, Marko Arnautovic; Marc Janko.

Subs not used: Heinz Linder, Adreas Lukse, Stefan Stangl, Karim Onisiwo, Markus Suttner, Michael Madl, Louis Schaub, Lukas Hinterseer, Michael Gregoritisch, Valentino Lazaro.

Booked: Julian Baumgartlinger (71).

Republic of Ireland: Darren Randolph; Seamus Coleman ©, Ciaran Clark, Shane Duffy, Robbie Brady; Glenn Whelan (David Meyler 24); Harry Arter, Jeff Hendrick, Wes Hoolahan (David McGoldrick 78); James McClean (Aiden McGeady 85), Jon Walters.

Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Keiren Westwood, John O’Shea, Richard Keogh, Daryl Horgan, Kevin Doyle, Paul McShane, Callum O’Dowda, Alex Pearce.

Booked: Shane Duffy (45), Robbie Brady (73).

Referee: Sergei Karasev (Russia).

Attendance: 48,500.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: James McClean (Republic of Ireland).