Republic of Ireland 2 - 2 Austria: Alaba foils Irish
Scorers: Republic of Ireland: Walters (25,pen, 45); Austria: Harnik (11) Alaba (90)
The Bayern Munich midfielder broke Irish hearts with an injury-time equaliser which denied them a precious victory.
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Hide AdJon Walters looked to have given the Republic the points when he cancelled out Martin Harnik’s opener from the penalty spot and then headed his side in front, but with a minute of stoppage time remaining, Alaba blasted the Austrians into second place in Group C on goal difference.
Ireland were within a minute of securing a precious victory which would have propelled them into second place in Group C when the Bayern Munich man smashed an injury-time equaliser past goalkeeper David Forde to snatch a point which left his side in pole position to claim the runners-up spot instead.
Rep of Ireland: Forde, Coleman, O’Shea, Clark, Wilson, Walters, Whelan, McCarthy, McClean, Sammon, Long. Subs: Westwood, O’Dea, St. Ledger, Hoolahan, Doyle, Kelly, Keogh, Brady, Cox, Green, Hendrick, Randolph.
Austria: Lindner, Garics, Pogatetz, Dragovic, Fuchs, Arnautovic, Junuzovic, Kavlak, Alaba, Hosiner, Harnik. Subs: Ozcan, Ivanschitz, Weimann, Suttner, Baumgartlinger, Prodl, Jantscher, Klein, Leitgeb, Janko, Ortlechner, Konigshofer.
Referee: Marijo Strahonja (Croatia)
Attendance: 50,000