skip to content

  • Kick-off: 19:45
  • Venue: Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna
  • Attendance: 51428
  • Referee: Webb, H

Live Commentary

90mins

AUSTRIA 1 - 1 POLAND: That late penalty ends the game as a draw. There is no doubt Austria earned it in the first half but, after failing to shoot in the second period, Poland will be stunned by the final result

90mins

A Poland corner increases the tension but it is headed over the bar

90mins

AUSTRIA 1 - 1 POLAND: VASTIC blasts the ball straight down the middle to bring the house down, scoring a goal Austria had deserved over an hour ago

90mins

BAK booked for dissent

90mins

An Austrian free-kick brings everyone forward and a tug from Lewandowski brings a penalty! Drama in Vienna!

90mins

Poland win a corner on the left side as time runs out for Austria. They look to take it short and waste a bit of time, although Murawski bursts into the area and forces Austria to clear

88mins

An offside ruins another good Austria move. No shots for Borac to save this half, a criminal offensive when they had so many first half chances

86mins

A well-hit free-kick from 35 yards forced Macho into a save and his parry almost dropped Poland's way, although Austria do eventually scramble the ball clear

85mins

Rafal Murawski is on for Guerreiro, who has been very impressive today

84mins

Prodl almost got a header on target after he jumped to meet a free-kick from the right side, but it hit his shoulder instead and flew wide of the goal

83mins

Wojciech Lobodzinski is on for Saganowski as Poland look for security at the back

83mins

Leitgeb this time took a corner, won again by Harnik, and it found its way through the penalty area but Saumel struck the ball high and wide

81mins

Again Austria fail to test Borac despite putting pressure on the back line, with Garics this time giving away a free-kick

79mins

The first is blocked and the second corner from Vastic is headed away with ease - poor cross

78mins

A deep free-kick is miss-handled by Borac and Austria earn a corner

77mins

The sub Kienast almost found himself through on goal after a hopeful high pass but he wasn't quite alert enough

76mins

Vastic struck it badly, about 30 yards too high and that is a waste when Austria so badly needs a goal

76mins

A handball brings Austria another good free-kick chance, 30 yards out from goal

74mins

Jurgen Saumel is on for Rene Aufhauser, bringing a defensive player on seems a strange move from Austria but we shall see

73mins

A corner is won thanks to fine work from Garics and Harnik, but the cross is flicked clear by Wasilewski

72mins

Booking for PRODL for a lazy foul. It will cost him a place in the next match as well

70mins

Another counter attack, this time led by Vastic, is well snuffed out by the Polish defence which is looking much stronger this half

68mins

A free-kick 30 yards out from the Austria goal was well struck Krzynowek but Macho tipped the effort over the bar

66mins

Austria sportingly kick the ball out as Saganowski has gone down injured, though it doesn't look too serious

64mins

Ivica Vastic and Roman Kienast are on for Ivanschitz and Linz - like-for-like subs but some much-needed fresh legs

63mins

Danger came from the corner and Macho produced an excellent double save - firstly from a shot from Bak on the back post and then from a high strike from the edge of the area

62mins

Mariusz Lewandowski found some space in the penalty area and rifled a shot towards goal which was blocked out for a corner

62mins

KRZYNOWEK is booked for kicking the ball away after he was given offside. A petty booking that one

60mins

Pogatetz curled in a dangerous cross from the left which is well cleared and Poland counter-attacked down their left wing before Austria cleared and went onto the attack. Breathless football here in Vienna

58mins

Another yellow, this time for WASILEWSKI for grabbing onto an Austria shirt as they threatened to break into the Polish half

57mins

Guerreiro, who has stood out for Poland in the second half, dribbles into the area and wins a corner which is cleared away

56mins

The first card is issued to KORKMAZ for a lunge on Saganowski to the right of the Austria area. The free-kick was whipped in to the near post but was well cleared

54mins

Harnik, who continues to cause chaos at the back, headed a deep cross back into the area where Linz was lurking but Boruc again took charge

52mins

Both sides have begun this second half looks open and aggressive, with both sides seeing enough of the ball to create a few chances

50mins

A corner was caught and quickly thrown clear by Boruc before Ebi Smolarek was found in space with just one defender to beat. He opted to shoot quickly but Macho was up to his effort, claiming the rebound at the second attempt

49mins

Harnik almost flicked a long pass on to Linz but his touch was a little heavy and Boruc was able to take control

47mins

A penalty appeal from Ivanschitz is turned down by English referee Howard Webb and it looked like the captain went down rather easily there

47mins

Michal Zewlakow looks to have converted to a centre-back, with Golanski taking over at left-back

46mins

Austria begin the second half and i wonder how they will handle the pressure if Poland can keep hold of their lead

46mins

Pawel Golanski is on for Jop - one of the worst of the terrible Polish back line in the first half

45mins

AUSTRIA 1 - 0 POLAND: The free-kick was played in dangerously but drifted wide of the far post and the attacking players. Austria will need to re-charge in the break and forget all their missed chances

45mins

A hugely disappointing half for the Austrians could yet end well as Korkmaz wins a free-kick on the left wing

45mins

A free-kick for shirt-pulling is awarded before Austria get to do much from Ivanschitz's free-kick

44mins

Harnik wins a contentious free-kick down near the right side corner flag and Austria bring up the big defenders

43mins

Poland are pressing Austria back into their own half - they look a different team from that of the first 20 minutes, with far greater energy

41mins

A through-ball from Saganowski is cleared behind for a corner that Krzynowek takes, crossing deep into the six yard box where Macho claws it out of the air and away

39mins

Pogatetz down the left is beginning to get back into the game as he wins a throw in that is headed clear. Less dominant in attack now Austria

37mins

Guerreiro won the ball well in midfield and found Krzynowek who hit a low shot from 20 yards, but Macho saved well low to his left

35mins

Poland are finding some space now, although a mistake from Mariusz Jop almost gave the Austrian attack an opening. Instead they clear and Krzynowek broke, shooting high over the Austrian goal

34mins

The co-hosts haven't responded well to the goal, failing to get forward with the same purpose as in the first part of this half

32mins

Austria must stay composed, they have shown themselves as the better team in the first half hour but, for all their chances, they are 1-0 down

30mins

AUSTRIA 1 - 0 POLAND: An undeserved opener for Poland - ROGER GUERREIRO tapping in from close range after a deep cross to Saganowski had taken the defenders and goalkeeper out of the way,

28mins

Poland have slowed the game down for a moment but Austria still look the more dangerous

26mins

Jacek Krzynowek finds some space on the left and wins a corner which he takes, but Austria clear and break forward

24mins

Austria are camped in the Poland half now, playing the ball around with confidence and skill while Poland are looking clueless. They may rue some of their missed chances though

22mins

Gyuri Garics was found in space on the right side and he cut into the area before Boruc rushed out to meet him and blocked the shot well

20mins

A shot from Marek Saganowski goes wide of Jurgen Macho's goal as Poland look to exploit the space Austria are leaving as they pile men forward in search of the goal they deserve

18mins

Ivanschitz has a pop from 20 yards which flies over the bar. A lot of space for the Austrians and the Polish defensive looks at least two men short. A goal looks imminent here

17mins

A defensive howler let him in for that one-on-one and an Austria mistake almost gifted Poland a goal as a deep cross found Daruisz Dudka unmarked but he crossed when he could have shot

16mins

Poland go forward where a long Marcin Wasilewski throw is cleared and Austria break. Again they are through on goal and again Boruc saves well, this time from Leitgeb

14mins

Another great opportunity for Austria who have stunned Poland early on. Harnik was in the thick of it again as a low cross was fired into the six yard box but Boruc saved from point-black range and the rebound couldn't be poked in

12mins

Some trouble for Boruc from the corner as he flaps the cross behind for a second set-piece. Harnik took this one short and ran into the area where his shot was well blocked

11mins

First chance of the game and it was a huge one - Harnik found himself behind the defence and through on Boruc but the big Celtic keeper got a hand to his low shot and brilliantly tipped the ball round the post

10mins

It was 30 yards out but Ivanschitz had a pop, beat the wall but didn't give Boruc much to do - the ball bouncing safely into his arms

9mins

Some angry Austrian players here as the referee blew for a foul on Martin Harnik when the ball had dropped to Sebastian Prodl who had looked to run on goal. Free-kick though and they might shoot

8mins

Poland continue to struggle for possession with the Austrians working really hard in midfield. No chances for either side so far though

6mins

Andreas Ivanschitz gets a shot away from 25 yards but it skids well wide of Artur Boruc's left hand post. Good signs from the Austrians early on

4mins

The ball has stayed on the Austrian left wing, inside the Polish half. Umit Korkmaz it is down that wing, although he looses the ball and Poland get some possession and a cross from the left before conceding a free-kick

2mins

Marek Saganowski does the defensive work and heads the cross away, although another free-kick is won by the Austrians and the ball will be hoofed back in

2mins

Early foul on Emanuel Pogatetz down the left flank gives them a free-kick and an early chance for pressure

1mins

Poland get the game underway and, with both sides needing a win, this could be an eventful and passionate game

0mins

Poland have scored just three goals in their last five games so the loss of star forward Zurawski, a Celtic player last year, is a big one. We shall see whether Saganowski can fill his large boots

0mins

Three changes too in the Poland side. Southampton striker Marek Saganowski is joined by Mariusz Jop and Roger Guerreiro. The injured Maciej Zurawski as well as Pawel Golanski and Wojciech Lobodzinski will start on the bench

0mins

To help them in their task three new players have been picked by coach Josef Hickersberger. Gyorgy Garics, Christoph Leitgeb and Umit Korkmaz are in the starting eleven, while striker Roland Linz has recovered from injury to keep his place

0mins

With one host already out of Euro 2008 it's up to Austria to keep local eyes focused on the tournament. They surprised many with a good performance in defeat against Croatia last week and they are facing a beatable Poland side tonight

Match Report

A contentious injury-time penalty goal from veteran Ivica Vastic secured Austria an unlikely 1-1 draw against Poland in Vienna.

Austria had time, space and chances galore for the most of the first 30 minutes - four one-on-ones in the space of ten thrilling minutes.

The first fell to Martin Harnik, who found himself behind the defence and through on Artur Boruc, but the big Celtic keeper got a hand to his low shot and brilliantly tipped the ball round the post.

Boruc saved again from point-blank range after a goalmouth scramble three minutes later, before in the 16th minute Christoph Leitgeb was sent through in the same fashion as Harnik, but the end result was, sadly for the hosts, almost identical.

Their pressure looked to have finally paid off in the 22nd minute when Gyuri Garics cut in well from the right side, running unchallenged into the Polish penalty area, but before he had time to pick his spot Boruc had rushed out and smothered the danger.

As much as Poland were indebted to Boruc's brilliance, they had created the problems for themselves. Mariusz Jop and captain Jacek Bak were absent in the centre of defence, while right-back Marcin Wasilewski was repeatedly beaten by Umit Korkmaz.

It was a solvable problem though and one that was helped when they had a lead to defend, albeit one that was completely undeserved.

A deep cross to Marek Saganowski had taken the defenders and goalkeeper out of the way, leaving Roger Guerreiro free to tap in from close range - despite receiving a pass from the Southampton striker in an offside position.

Nevertheless they were free to shut up shop and play for a 1-0 win - a tactic that looked sound until the last-minute drama.

Boruc hadn't been tested in the whole of the second half, while his opposite number Jurgen Macho faced a number of efforts that he repelled without ever looking entirely convincing.

So by the time English referee Howard Webb awarded a penalty to Austria for a tug on Sebastian Prodl by Mariusz Lewandowski, the co-hosts had looked dead and buried.

Nevertheless, substitute Vastic had no hesitation in striking a fierce drive down the middle of Boruc's goal to become, at 38, the oldest ever scorer in a European Championship finals.

The equaliser opens Group B up, with all four teams now still in contention in the last round of matches to be played on Monday.

Austria

Poland

Corners

98

Fouls

1325

Goal attempts

1112

Shots off target

54

Offsides

12

advertisement

advertisement