Austria 2-2 Scotland: Steve Clarke's men extend unbeaten run despite losing two-goal lead

2 years ago 60
ARTICLE AD BOX
Jack Hendry scoresClub Bruges centre-back Jack Hendry bundled in the opening goal for Scotland

Scotland extended their unbeaten run to eight games despite spurning a two-goal lead in a late friendly collapse in Austria.

Jack Hendry nodded in a first-half opener, but the visitors had Craig Gordon to thank for a string of saves.

The Scots doubled their lead in Vienna when John McGinn finished off a fine free-flowing move.

But Michael Gregoritsch's header pulled one back for Austria before Alessandro Schopf's quickfire second levelled.

Following Thursday's late draw with Poland, it is six wins in eight games for Steve Clarke's men.

The Scots are due to return to action in June when the domestic campaign draws to a close, with a quartet of Nations League games currently scheduled to be played over a 10-day period.

The World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine and a potential final are also due to be rearranged for that month, but it remains to be seen whether they will replace or add to the four games already in the calendar.

It could have been the night Scotland booked their place at a World Cup for the first time this century. If your glass is half empty, it could have been another night of heartbreak.

Instead, a subdued Ernst-Happel-Stadion, where the Austrian support looked outnumbered by the travelling Tartan Army, played host to what turned out to be an entertaining friendly.

For certain, the home fans were drowned out audibly by the visiting Scots as they watched their side break forward on the counter, resulting in Stuart Armstrong crossing for McGinn, who smashed a volley into the arms of Daniel Bachmann early on.

Gordon added to his showreel of fine Scotland saves up the other end to deny Sasa Kalajdzic twice, first extending his left arm to stop a header before thwarting the Stuttgart forward at his near post with his feet.

Both chances came either side of another Scotland breakaway, with Armstrong again providing McGinn. This time, the Aston Villa man clipped a close-range effort past the far post when passing across goal to Che Adams looked the better option.

Austria, looking to give departing boss Franco Foda a positive send off in his final game in charge, were the more likely as Gordon bettered his previous two stops to prevent Marko Arnautovic bursting the net with a first-time strike.

But the Scots were always a danger on the transition as a driving run and fantastic pass from Andy Robertson led to Adams' deflected effort hitting the side netting.

The following set-piece brought the opener. Hendry bravely nodded in a rebound after McGinn's inswinging cross was headed off the bar by Grant Hanley - a second Scotland goal for the Club Bruges defender.

While Gordon was in inspired form, a more clinical attack would have made Scotland pay in the first half as RB Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer drilled wide from the edge of the area with the goal gaping.

Scotland looked a more resolute unit at the start of the second period and doubled their advantage when a fantastic team move ended with Kieran Tierney pulling the ball back for McGinn to smash into the roof of the net.

But Clarke's backline began to creak again when Gregoritsch's glancing header to the far post reduced the deficit.

Bayern Munich's Marcel Sabitzer then drilled a shot wide, but Schopf made no mistake from similar range, guiding a low shot from the edge of the area past a rooted Gordon.

On another fantastic international display, the Hearts keeper had one more vital intervention to make, racing out to deny Andreas Weimann.

Friendly or not, that save could prove to be crucial for morale as it ensured the away side's unbeaten run rolls on into June.

Man of the match - Craig Gordon

Craig Gordon save v AustriaWith so much hype surrounding Scotland's young talent, the 39-year-old again proved how much he has to offer between the sticks in another standout performance

What did we learn?

Scotland's World Cup qualifying win in Vienna six months ago, a turning point in their campaign, was viewed as seismic. Now, it is the standard.

For that reason, coupled with how late both goals came, this result will sting, regardless of the importance of the fixture.

Crucially, the eight-game unbeaten run will carry on to June, when Scotland are expected to play their rearranged play-off semi-final with Ukraine - a potential career-defining game for these players.

Only between October 2019 and November 2020 have the national team enjoyed a longer unbeaten streak under Clarke, and spirit in the camp will remain high when the squad regroup in the summer.

What's next?

Scotland are scheduled to return to action in June, beginning their Nations League campaign with a quartet of games over 10 days.

Two fixtures against Armenia bookend a home match against Ukraine and a trip to the Republic of Ireland - but there is also a play-off semi-final against the Ukrainians to rearrange, with a potential final against Wales to come.

Line-ups

Austria

Formation 3-4-3

  • 13BachmannSubstituted forPentzat 87'minutes
  • 6IlsankerSubstituted forWeimannat 74'minutes
  • 3Dragovic
  • 4Hinteregger
  • 22Lazaro
  • 20LainerSubstituted forGrüllat 60'minutes
  • 9Sabitzer
  • 2UlmerSubstituted forUllmannat 87'minutes
  • 19BaumgartnerSubstituted forSchöpfat 59'minutes
  • 14KalajdzicSubstituted forGregoritschat 74'minutes
  • 7Arnautovic

Substitutes

  • 1Pentz
  • 10Weimann
  • 11Gregoritsch
  • 15Ullmann
  • 17Grüll
  • 18Schöpf
  • 21Laimer

Scotland

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 1Gordon
  • 13Hendry
  • 5Hanley
  • 6Tierney
  • 22PattersonSubstituted forO'Donnellat 57'minutes
  • 20FergusonSubstituted forGilmourat 77'minutes
  • 16JackSubstituted forMcTominayat 58'minutes
  • 3RobertsonSubstituted forHickeyat 58'minutes
  • 7McGinn
  • 17S ArmstrongSubstituted forChristieat 77'minutes
  • 10AdamsSubstituted forDykesat 66'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2O'Donnell
  • 4McTominay
  • 8McGregor
  • 9Dykes
  • 11Christie
  • 12Clark
  • 14Gilmour
  • 15Halkett
  • 18Hickey
  • 19Brown
  • 21Kelly
  • 23Taylor

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Austria 2, Scotland 2.

  2. Second Half ends, Austria 2, Scotland 2.

  3. Foul by Aleksandar Dragovic (Austria).

  4. Lyndon Dykes (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Offside, Austria. Andreas Weimann tries a through ball, but Marko Arnautovic is caught offside.

  6. Attempt missed. Marko Arnautovic (Austria) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Valentino Lazaro with a cross.

  7. Foul by Martin Hinteregger (Austria).

  8. Ryan Christie (Scotland) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  9. Andreas Weimann (Austria) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  10. Foul by Aaron Hickey (Scotland).

  11. Corner, Austria. Conceded by Scott McTominay.

  12. Substitution, Austria. Patrick Pentz replaces Daniel Bachmann.

  13. Substitution, Austria. Maximilian Ullmann replaces Andreas Ulmer.

  14. Michael Gregoritsch (Austria) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  15. Foul by Aaron Hickey (Scotland).

  16. Foul by Marko Arnautovic (Austria).

  17. Stephen O'Donnell (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Attempt missed. Grant Hanley (Scotland) header from the right side of the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.

  19. Foul by Andreas Weimann (Austria).

  20. Aaron Hickey (Scotland) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Player of the match

GordonCraig Gordon

with an average of 7.84

Austria

  1. Squad number10Player nameWeimann

  2. Squad number4Player nameHinteregger

  3. Squad number15Player nameUllmann

  4. Squad number9Player nameSabitzer

  5. Squad number20Player nameLainer

  6. Squad number2Player nameUlmer

  7. Squad number18Player nameSchöpf

  8. Squad number11Player nameGregoritsch

  9. Squad number6Player nameIlsanker

  10. Squad number19Player nameBaumgartner

  11. Squad number3Player nameDragovic

  12. Squad number7Player nameArnautovic

  13. Squad number22Player nameLazaro

  14. Squad number14Player nameKalajdzic

  15. Squad number13Player nameBachmann

  16. Squad number1Player namePentz

  17. Squad number17Player nameGrüll

Scotland

  1. Squad number1Player nameGordon

  2. Squad number6Player nameTierney

  3. Squad number7Player nameMcGinn

  4. Squad number10Player nameAdams

  5. Squad number3Player nameRobertson

  6. Squad number22Player namePatterson

  7. Squad number17Player nameS Armstrong

  8. Squad number16Player nameJack

  9. Squad number13Player nameHendry

  10. Squad number20Player nameFerguson

  11. Squad number5Player nameHanley

  12. Squad number14Player nameGilmour

  13. Squad number11Player nameChristie

  14. Squad number18Player nameHickey

  15. Squad number4Player nameMcTominay

  16. Squad number9Player nameDykes

  17. Squad number2Player nameO'Donnell

Read Entire Article