Marko Arnautovic (right) scored two goals for Austria. © ANSA / GINTARE KARPAVICIUTE
With a landslide win against Norway, Austria’s national football team has put itself in an excellent position in the fight for promotion back to the top division of the Nations League.
13 October 2024
From: apa
The Austrians dispatched the team around star striker Erling Haaland 5-1 (1-1) in Linz on Sunday. Marko Arnautovic scored twice (8th, 49th/penalty), Philipp Lienhart (58th), Stefan Posch (63rd) and Michael Gregoritsch (71st) were successful for the ÖFB team.
Ralf Rangnick’s selection has the group victory in their own hands after their first home win against Norway in 45 years. Before the final games in Kazakhstan (November 14th) and against Slovenia (November 17th), Austria is level on points with the Norwegians and Slovenes, but has won the decisive direct duel with Haaland and Co.
Arnautovic returned to the starting line-up as a “joker” after two ÖFB games. In front of 16,500 spectators in the sold-out Raiffeisen Arena, the record national player was preferred over Junior Adamu, who had recently started in the center of attack in the 4-0 win against Kazakhstan. Arnautovic led Austria onto the field as captain in his 120th international match – and proved his worth after just seven minutes. After a pass from Baumgartner and a good run, the 35-year-old put the ball into the net from the edge of the penalty area via the underside of the crossbar. It was his first ÖFB goal from the game since September 2023 in the 3-1 win against Sweden.
Erling Haaland didn’t find his way into the game against Austria. © ANSA / GINTARE KARPAVICIUTE
Less than 100 seconds earlier, Haaland, who had been somewhat lucky to get the ball, had hit the bar. Patrick Pentz, who returned to the ÖFB goal instead of Alexander Schlager, would have been beaten (6th). Haaland’s strike partner Alexander Sörloth made his first appearance in the 17th minute, but his shot went over the goal. Haaland was decisively pushed away by Gernot Trauner when he shot again (19th).
After the opening goal, the Austrians briefly had the upper hand. Norway keeper Örjan Nyland showed some difficulty when Marcel Sabitzer shot (11th), and made a strong save when Christoph Baumgartner tried (24th). Sörloth equalized after a free kick cross from Julian Ryerson (39′). Because Stefan Posch was blocked by Morten Thorsby, the Atletico Madrid striker was able to head the ball relatively unchallenged. Pentz had wandered through the penalty area somewhat indecisively and was therefore no longer able to intervene.
Arnautovics Doppelpack
Before the break, Nyland defused a dangerous shot from Konrad Laimer (43′). After the break there was only a brief flashlight failure, but the Austrians kept their perspective. Andreas Hanche-Olsen threw himself into Baumgartner’s path in the penalty area. Arnautovic safely converted the penalty into the left corner. With now 39 international goals, the Inter Milan striker is only five goals short of ÖFB record man Toni Polster.
Like three days ago, Lienhart scored with a header from a corner from Romano Schmid – and into the exact same goal in front of the ÖFB fan stand. But things got even better for Austria: Sabitzer, who had been playing with a turban since the first half, found Posch with a cross at the far corner, who also headed in. It was the Bologna defender’s second goal in his 40th international match. Nicolas Seiwald came close to scoring his ÖFB debut goal, but his header was centimeters away (66′).
Austria celebrates the sweeping victory. © ANSA / GINTARE KARPAVICIUTE
Arnautovic received his exit applause in the 69th minute, and Gregoritsch, who had been out of action during the week with a fever of up to 39 degrees, replaced him. Less than two minutes later, the Freiburg striker, who was missing from the botched Nations League opener in September with a 1-1 draw in Slovenia and a 2-1 draw in Norway due to a torn muscle fiber, also struck with a header. Sabitzer once again did the preparatory work.
Austria also won its fourth competitive game in the new Linz stadium. It was the fifth home win in a row for the ÖFB team, the first against Norway since 1979. At that time, the Scandinavians were dispatched 4-0 in the Vienna Prater. The last time the Austrians scored more goals in a competitive game was in September 2019 in the European Championship qualification against Latvia (6-0). The Norwegians, who were still unbeaten in the Nations League, conceded more than four goals for the first time since a 6-0 defeat against Germany in September 2017.
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