The ÖFB U21 team is back in the battle for a EURO ticket

© Sportreport

The under-21 team (born in 1998) has re-entered the fight for participation in the UEFA Under-21 European Championship 2021. At Stadiumi Fadil Vokkri in Kosovo’s capital Pristina celebrates the Red-and-White team a 1-0 victory over the return of team boss Werner Gregoritsch.

The first half largely belongs to the Austrians, who always have opportunities, especially when it comes to moments of rapid change. Often, however, precision is lacking in the final pass. The best chance comes with the debut in the starting XI Yusuf Demir, who is completely free in the back area after a long pass from Danso and a head extension from Christoph Klarer, but puts the ball just above the goal of the premises (11º). Gladbach’s legionnaire Hannes Wolf also forgives in the 31st minute just after a good pass from Marko Raguz.

Then, in the 28th minute, the crash. Dominik Reiter gets stuck on the grass without any interference from the opponent and immediately grabs his knee. Manuel Thurnwald joins.

Play goal
After the change of sides, only Gregoritsch-Elf plays, now breaking the united Kosovar defense much more frequently. But luck is lacking in the end. Time and time again, a Kosovar has one leg in the middle.

The best chance is given by Kelvin Arase, who thunders a bounce from a short distance to the bottom edge of the crossbar. But Austria did not give up and lost Emanuel Aiwu through injury in the final stages.

There is no redemption until four minutes before the end. The exchanged Marco Grüll tunes up a preliminary work of the also exchanged Alexander Schmidt worth seeing in the far corner.

In the end, Gregoritsch’s protégés bring the tight but deserved victory in time.

Kosovo vs. Austria 0: 1 (0: 0)
Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina

Hill: Grüll (87.)

Kosovo: Smakiqi – Kastrati, Hajrizi, Sadriu, Zekaj (73. Krasniqi), Kryeziu (73. Pepsi), Abedini ©, Selmani (52. Jashari), Rahimi, Daku, Ajdini (52. Sulisufaj)

Austria: Ehmann – Schnegg (61 ° Arase), Malicsek, Danso ©, Raguz (85 ° A. Schmidt), Demir, Wolf, Reiter (28 ° Thurnwald), P. Schmidt (61 ° Grüll), Klarer, Aiwu (86 ° Maresic )

Werner Gregoritsch, U21 team boss: “It was an absolute voluntary victory for my team, which performed well throughout the week. We now have a last week in November. That was our goal for this course. I am very happy for Marco, he did an excellent job on goal. It was a relief when the ball finally entered the goal because we had already created some chances. ”

Marco Grüll: “Of course I am happy to have scored my first U21 goal. But I’m even happier that I was able to help the team with that. ”

ÖFB press release

09.10.2020