Last-gasp Arnautovic assist secures dramatic Austria win

Marko Arnautovic

 

Marko Arnautovic provided a last-minute assist as Austria snatched a dramatic 2-1 UEFA Nations League League B Group 2 victory in Northern Ireland.

The West Ham United star collected a pass from David Alaba played in Valentino Lazaro, who took a touch and curled a superb shot into the top corner in the dying seconds at Windsor Park in Belfast.

With Austria unable to be either promoted or relegated, Arnautovic was left out of the starting XI by Franco Foda, but made a game-changing impact after being introduced as a substitute with 19 minutes to play.

Earning his 78th cap, the 29-year-old was in space on the right of the penalty area, from where he squared the ball to Hertha Berlin midfielder Lazaro, whose shot flew past Northern Ireland goalkeeper Trevor Carson.

Earlier, Salzburg’s Xavier Schlager had put Austria in front on 49 minutes before Blackburn Rovers defender Corry Evans levelled the scores 12 minutes after the break.

Sunday’s win means Austria finish their Nations League campaign second in their three-country group with seven points from four matches, three adrift of winners Bosnia & Herzegovina and ahead of winless Northern Ireland.