[ad_1]
The Austrian soccer team suffered a points loss at the start of qualifying for the World Cup. Shooting star Sasa Kalajdzic’s first two international goals were few to win in Glasgow. The Stuttgart striker led the ÖFB team twice to the lead against Scotland (55th, 80th). The hosts managed to equalize through Grant Hanley (71st) and John McGinn (85th). In Group F, Austria is two points behind the top of the table.
ÖFB team boss Franco Foda was able to call on his legionnaires from Germany in the empty Hampden Park, contrary to original fears. With Marcel Sabitzer, who injured his left leg in the morning session before the game, Martin Hinteregger, Julian Baumgartlinger, Konrad Laimer, Valentino Lazaro and Marko Arnautovic were also left without another regular. Instead, Adrian Grbic started as the second head alongside Kalajdzic.
The goal was guarded by LASK goalkeeper Alexander Schlager. Facing a three-way defense with Stefan Ilsanker, Aleksandar Dragovic and Philipp Lienhart, Florian Grillitsch hit the “quarterback” in the center of midfield. David Alaba acted as backup captain for Baumgartlinger on the left wing, with Stefan Lainer, Xaver Schlager and Christoph Baumgartner in the starting lineup.
Thanks to Kalajdzic, the Austrians knocked on the door after just 63 seconds. Otherwise, the ÖFB team only radiated something like danger with the shots of Baumgartner (18th) and Alaba (25th) before the break. The Foda-Elf had significantly more possession, but wasted bright ideas and clear chances. Sometimes there was no movement, Foda seemed unhappy on the sidelines.
Instead, as the game progressed, the Scots, who started cautiously, stepped closer and found the best opportunity of the first half after a misstep from Alexander Schlager. A bad pass from the 25-year-old, who had taken precedence over Pavao Pervan, Daniel Bachmann and Heinz Lindner, ended up at Lyndon Dykes. But when Ryan Christie finished, Schlager kept his cool (42nd).
After changing sides, the Austrians attacked. A strong shot from Grillitsch allowed Scottish goalkeeper David Marshall to bounce off Kalajdzic’s legs. The 23-year-old, who has been at the top of VfB Stuttgart for weeks, scored his first goal in his third international game.
The leadership did not reassure the ÖFB team. Ilsanker was very lucky that there was no penalty in the area after Christie was caught (56th). Less than a minute later, Scotsman Stuart Armstrong put the ball past the far corner (57). Defense attorney Hanley called. Schlager couldn’t get out the door on a long, achievable Stephen O’Donnell free-kick cross. Ilsanker could no longer prevent Hanley from heading the ball (71.).
A Kalajdzic header goal had not previously counted due to fouls by the striker (58th). The six foot man made up for what he had notably missed by placing Lainer’s flank perfectly in the right corner from a difficult position in distress. It wasn’t enough for the away win, the ÖFB team’s fifth in a row, as McGinn landed an overhead kick after Christie’s header worked from a suspicious offside position.
The Austrians have opened four of their most recent five qualifying campaigns with lost points. Only in the elimination for the 2018 World Cup were there three points in Georgia with a 2-1 victory. Qualification for Qatar 2022 continues for the ÖFB team on Sunday with a home game in Vienna against the away Faroe Islands, before going there on Wednesday against what is probably the strongest opponent in the group, Denmark.
(THAT)
Item Image: GEPA
