Last minute penalty keeps Austria in Euro 2008
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Co-hosts Austria scored an injury time penalty to gain a 1-1 draw with Poland and save their tiny little hopes of qualifying from the group stages of Euro 2008.
They saved their honour for not following other co-hosts Switzerland which dropped out from the tournament earlier.
The result means that both teams still have a chance of reaching the knockout stages, although Austria have to beat tournament's favourites Germany and Poland will face the group leader Croatia.
Brazilian-born midfielder Roger Guerreiro gave the Poles their first goal in the tournament by scoring in the 30th-minute.
It was Guerreiro's first goal for his adopted country since he received Polish citizenship in April.
Guerreiro had only been a substitute in the first match defeat against Germany, but gained a starting place after a second-half breakthrough appearance.
But an injury-time penalty by Ivica Vastic grab the lifeline for co-hosts Austria as referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot after Sebastian Prödl had his shirt pulled by Mariusz Lewandowski in the 93rd minute.
Vastic showed no sign of nerves as he sent goalkeeper Artur Boruc the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The 38-year-old attacking midfielder became the oldest man to score in the European Champhionsip finals, surpassing former Portuguese player Nene who was 34 when he scored for his country against Romania in 1984.
Poland coach Leo Beenhakker was furious by the injury-time penalty decision and stormed onto the pitch at the final whistle to confront the referee.
The 65-year-old said that decision was totally unjustified and ended his team’s interest in the tournament.
Both teams now have one point in Group B, with Germany on three and already-qualified Croatia top on six.
Austria: 21-Jürgen Macho; 14-György Garics, 15-Sebastian Prödl, 3-Martin Stranzl, 4-Emanuel Pogatetz; 8-Christoph Leitgeib, 6-René Aufhauser (19-Jürgen Säumel 74), 10-Andreas Ivanschitz (7-Ivica Vastic 64), 11-Ümit Korkmaz; 20-Martin Harnik, 9-Roland Linz (18-Roman Kienast 64)
Poland: 1-Artur Boruc; 13-Marcin Wasilewski, 2-Mariusz Jop (4-Pawel Golański 46), 6-Jacek Bąk, 14-Michal Żewłakow; 18-Mariusz Lewandowski, 5-Dariusz Dudka, 8-Jacek Krzynówek; 11-Marek Saganowski (17-Wojciech Łobodziński 83); 20-Roger Guerreiro (19-Rafał Murawski 85), 7-Ebi Smolarek
Referee: Howard Webb (England)
Statistics:
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They saved their honour for not following other co-hosts Switzerland which dropped out from the tournament earlier.
The result means that both teams still have a chance of reaching the knockout stages, although Austria have to beat tournament's favourites Germany and Poland will face the group leader Croatia.
Brazilian-born midfielder Roger Guerreiro gave the Poles their first goal in the tournament by scoring in the 30th-minute.
It was Guerreiro's first goal for his adopted country since he received Polish citizenship in April.
Guerreiro had only been a substitute in the first match defeat against Germany, but gained a starting place after a second-half breakthrough appearance.
But an injury-time penalty by Ivica Vastic grab the lifeline for co-hosts Austria as referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot after Sebastian Prödl had his shirt pulled by Mariusz Lewandowski in the 93rd minute.
Vastic showed no sign of nerves as he sent goalkeeper Artur Boruc the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The 38-year-old attacking midfielder became the oldest man to score in the European Champhionsip finals, surpassing former Portuguese player Nene who was 34 when he scored for his country against Romania in 1984.
Poland coach Leo Beenhakker was furious by the injury-time penalty decision and stormed onto the pitch at the final whistle to confront the referee.
The 65-year-old said that decision was totally unjustified and ended his team’s interest in the tournament.
Both teams now have one point in Group B, with Germany on three and already-qualified Croatia top on six.
| Austria |  | 1 - 1 |  | Poland |
| Ivica Vastic 90+3 pen | Roger Guerreiro 30 |
Austria: 21-Jürgen Macho; 14-György Garics, 15-Sebastian Prödl, 3-Martin Stranzl, 4-Emanuel Pogatetz; 8-Christoph Leitgeib, 6-René Aufhauser (19-Jürgen Säumel 74), 10-Andreas Ivanschitz (7-Ivica Vastic 64), 11-Ümit Korkmaz; 20-Martin Harnik, 9-Roland Linz (18-Roman Kienast 64)
Poland: 1-Artur Boruc; 13-Marcin Wasilewski, 2-Mariusz Jop (4-Pawel Golański 46), 6-Jacek Bąk, 14-Michal Żewłakow; 18-Mariusz Lewandowski, 5-Dariusz Dudka, 8-Jacek Krzynówek; 11-Marek Saganowski (17-Wojciech Łobodziński 83); 20-Roger Guerreiro (19-Rafał Murawski 85), 7-Ebi Smolarek
Referee: Howard Webb (England)
Statistics:
| Shots on target : | 5 | - | 8 |
| Shots off target : | 5 | - | 5 |
| Ball possession (%) : | 53 | - | 47 |
| Corner kicks : | 8 | - | 8 |
| Offsides : | 1 | - | 2 |
| Fouls : | 13 | - | 25 |
| Yellow cards : | 2 | - | 3 |
| Red cards : | 0 | - | 0 |
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What's your bet? Holland? All the big nations are really getting down! Italy, France, Germany... but Holland (The Netherlands) is big too.... but well, maybe they are the exceptions to the group. Seems that the world cup champs are sinking! Frannce and Italy you know...and hey! The goal keepr of Dutch played here in Italy for around 3-4 years before and my lovey told me he was the worst keeper ever for Italian soccer...but now...hummmm...the world is round! What do you think?
ABC Bloglearner