Austria U21s 3 -2 Scotland U21s: Young Scots qualifying bid dies

CRAIG FORBES
Published on Monday 10 September 2012 23:45

SCOTLAND Under-21s lost in injury-time in Austria as their European qualifying hopes ended last night with their first defeat of the campaign.

Scorers: Austria U21s - Gregoritsch (8),Weimann (75),Holzhauser (90); Scotland U21s - Watt (54), Russell (75)

Attendance: 800

Johnny Russell had put Scotland ahead in the 74th minute after Tony Watt cancelled out an early opener but Billy Stark’s side could only hold on to their lead for 90 seconds.

And Raphael Holzhauser scored on the counter-attack as Scotland threw men forward in a bid to secure a last-gasp winner at the Cashback Arena in Altach.

Scotland had gone into the game assured of second place behind Group 10 winners Holland but only the four best runners-up join the top teams in the play-offs for next summer’s finals in Israel and they had to throw caution to the wind in the final stages as a draw would not have been enough.

Having lost Jordan Rhodes and James Forrest to the senior squad, and Gary Mackay-Steven to a knee injury, Stark was deprived of another attacking option when Leigh Griffiths pulled out through illness after scoring in Thursday’s 3-0 win over Luxembourg. But the in-form Watt came in after scoring off the bench at St Mirren Park with David Wotherspoon returning from suspension to replace Rhys McCabe. Austria’s hopes had ended with defeat by Holland on Friday but they started on the front foot and Michael Gregoritsch headed into the roof of the net in the eighth minute after getting in front of Ryan Jack to meet an inswinging cross from the right.

Andreas Weimann had a sight of goal when Gregoritsch headed on a diagonal ball but the Aston Villa forward hit the side-netting. Wiemann then had a half-hearted appeal for a penalty as he failed to convert Stefan Schwab’s left-wing cross under a challenge from Danny Wilson.

Watt was just beaten to Wotherspoon’s header across goal before Russell missed a great chance. Paul Hanlon cut in from the left and played the ball beyond the home defence but Russell could not get a decent contact and the home keeper gratefully collected.

Scott Allan fired just over from 30 yards but Scotland had a let-off before the break when Schwab mis-kicked Weimann’s cutback from 12 yards.

Schwab headed wide following a corner just after half-time but Scotland were level in the 54th minute. Russell leapt to head on Wilson’s long free-kick and Watt reacted quickly to head over the goalkeeper.

Scotland brought on Peter Pawlett for Allan but they were almost caught out by a long ball as Wiemann headed wide. Scotland stunned the hosts in the 74th minute when Watt got round the outside of his man on the left and drove the ball into the goalmouth. The goalkeeper fumbled and Russell bundled the ball over the line. But just like their 2-2 draw in Bulgaria in May, Scotland lost an instant equaliser. Ross Perry failed to deal with a cross from the left and the ball spun off his knee and fell for Weimann, who dived to head home.

Austria U21s: Siebenhandl, Dibon, Meilinger (Holzhauser 85), Weimann, Schwab (Ritzmaier 60), Gregoritsch (Sabitzer 68), Wimmer, Grozurek, Prietl,Klem, Sollbauer. Subs not used: Riegler, Mally, Kainz, Wernitznig. .

Scotland U21s: Archer, Jack, Hanlon, Wilson, Perry, Kelly, Armstrong (Wylde 83), Allan (Pawlett 60), Watt, Russell, Wotherspoon. Subs not used: Bain, Toshney, Shinnie, McLean, McCabe.

Taken from the Scotsman