New Delhi: Poland and Austria, both were coming into the match after suffering defeats in their opening game of the tournament and were eager to right their wrongs from the last outing. The game took place in front of a packed crowd at the Olympiastadion Berlin as Austria emerged 3-1 winners over Poland.
Michał Probierz made three changes to the side that faced defeat against the Netherlands as Kacper Urbanski, Sebastian Szymanski, and the injured Bartosz Salamon, made way for Krzysztof Piatek, Jakub Piotrowski, and Pawel Dawidowicz. His counterpart, Austria manager Ralf Rangnick also made three changes to his side that narrowly lost to France as he replaced the centre-back pairing from the previous game with Kevin Danso and Maximillian Wober being swapped for Gernot Trauner and Phillip Lienhart. Captain Marko Arnautovich also made his return to the starting lineup in place of Michael Gregoritsch.
Austria made a quick start to the game as they started making forays into the opposition half right from the kickoff, putting immense pressure on the Polish defence from the beginning. Their early pressure paid off as Gernot Trauner rose highest to head home from a Phillip Mwene cross to give his side the lead. With the goal being scored by one of the players Rangnick brought in for this match, it was Poland’s turn to do the same as Piatek scored his 12th international goal in 30 caps to bring his side level.
The game was on level terms when both teams headed into the tunnel at halftime, and both looked like going for the kill in the opening moments of the second half. Austria finally made their mark once again after the clock passed the hour mark Baumgartner’s first goal for Poland since June 2021 gave Austria the lead again before Arnautovich’s penalty wrapped up the game for the Red Eagles.
Key Highlights from Austria’s first major win over Poland
Marko Arnautovic becomes the oldest goalscorer at UEFA Euro 2024 (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Austria started the match brightly, causing major troubles to the Polish backline in the first ten minutes of the game.
Gernot Trauner gave his side the lead in the 9th minute as he headed past Wojciech Szczęsny in the top left corner of the goal from a beautiful Phillip Mwene cross.
Zielinski fired a powerful shot at goal but the shot struck Mwene’s arm and the Polish wanted a penalty for the same. The referee, however, didn’t seem too bothered by it as the defender’s hand was tucked close to his body.
Poland made it all level once again in the 30th minute as Zielinski’s deep delivery caused trouble in the Austria box. An initial effort is blocked before Piatek takes it around Trauner and slots past Pentz.
The last attack of the half fell to Poland as Zielinski bends it around the wall but Pentz flies across his goal to tip it past the right post. Both teams headed into the half on level terms.
Both teams came out showing intent in the second half as the game seemed end-to-end in the opening 10 minutes of the second half with neither team showing signs of slowing down.
Baumgartner scores in the 66th minute to make it 2-1. Arnautovic dummies an Alexander Prass pass for Baumgartner, and the RB Leipzig man curls a brilliant past a rooted Szczesny.
It was Baumgartner now who turned creator he slid in Wimmer perfectly but his shot was well saved by Szczesny as he dove down well to his right.
Pentz finds Arnautovic through a long ball and it goes through to Sabitzer and an excellent touch from the Austrian saw him through on goal. Szczesny wipes out the Austrian midfielder in his box, giving away a penalty and earning himself a yellow card.
Captain Arnautovic stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick in the 78th and buried it to Szczesny’s left as the keeper dove to his right.
Laimer has a brilliant chance to put the game to bed as he rounds up Szczesny beautifully but his shot from a tight angle just misses the target.
Poland looked for one last attack that could bring the game back to life but they couldn’t manage to find the net again as the referee blew the final whistle.
Goals from Gernot Trauner, Christoph Baumgartner, and captain Marko Arnautovic ripped Poland apart as they sink to bottom of Group D, leaving them unable to reach the knockout stages. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
