Austria’s aggressive and hard-running strategy propelled them into the spherical of 16 of the European Championship on Tuesday as an exciting 3-2 victory over the Netherlands noticed them not solely progress but in addition snatch first place in Group D.
The Dutch additionally superior as one of many 4 greatest third-place finishers regardless of giving freely an early personal purpose, placing on a pedestrian first-half efficiency and shedding to a sucker punch as Marcel Sabitzer struck for Austria 10 minutes from time.
With France held to a 1-1 draw by Poland within the group’s different sport in Dortmund, Austria topped the desk with six factors, one forward of second-placed France on 5 and the Dutch on 4 factors.
Austria sped right into a shock lead on the Olympiastadion when Donyell Malen turned the ball into his personal web six minutes into the competition however Cody Gakpo equalised quickly after the break.
Romano Schmid put Austria forward once more simply earlier than the hour in a see-saw second half, with Memphis Depay equalising within the seventy fifth.
It was left to Sabitzer to cap a decided displaying from Ralf Rangnick’s aspect and see them emerge as shock winners of the group, whose remaining placings have been up within the air as positions within the standings modified a number of instances over the 90 minutes.
They may subsequent meet the Group F runners-up, which might be selected Wednesday, whereas France and the Netherlands additionally wait to seek out out the id of their last-16 opponents.
“Whenever you win like that, win the group, rating the profitable purpose, it would not get any higher than that. You may see that we rotate by means of the crew and nothing is missed, everybody is aware of their place and what they need to do,” mentioned Sabitzer.
Malen’s misfortune got here as he made his first begin on the event in Germany, sliding in to try to intercept a cross from the left by Alexander Prass however hitting it with such drive that the ball bulleted previous his personal goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen.
Malen ought to have made up for his misfortune within the twenty third minute however shanked his effort large, miscuing an ideal cross that cut up the Austria defence and put him by means of with simply keeper Patrick Pentz to beat.
Earlier than that, there was a 14th-minute alternative for Tijjani Reijnders to degree the rating however his effort was additionally woefully astray after Gakpo had set him up.
Dutch concern over shedding key midfield duels and common turnover of possession noticed Joey Veerman taken off, with Xavi Simons introduced on in his place, with 10 minutes left of the primary half.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman had been leaping up and down off his bench with rising irritation as Austria’s aggressive urgent compelled a number of errors out of his crew.
Austria might have been 2-0 up earlier than the break as they prompted the Dutch no finish of issues. Verbruggen made a pointy save to cease Marcel Sabitzer’s stinging effort after which received a contact to disclaim Marko Arnautovic an opportunity in entrance of purpose.
With Koeman’s fury possible nonetheless ringing of their ears from the half-time break, the Dutch swarmed ahead after the second interval kicked off with Simons driving the ball by means of the center and passing off to Gakpo.
Gakpo’s marker Philipp Lienhart gave him an excessive amount of house and the attacker wanted no second invitation, curling the ball into the online with aplomb.
However simply as they have been gaining the higher hand, the Dutch have been stung once more within the 59th minute with Florian Grillitsch’s pull again from the byline establishing a header for the diminutive Schmid, whose effort was going goalwards however was helped into the opposite nook of the online by Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij.
Pinch hitter Wout Weghorst made a right away impression after approaching for Malen within the 72nd minute, along with his header establishing a close-range likelihood for Depay.
Referee Ivan Kruzliak from Slovakia initially dominated the purpose out, claiming Depay had dealt with, however VAR confirmed this was not the case and it was awarded after a two-minute verify.
Parity lasted however 5 minutes, nonetheless, earlier than Sabitzer restored Austria’s benefit, establishing the purpose with a burst by means of the center after which timing his run completely to obtain a return cross and rating from a good angle.
“For those who beat the Netherlands and win the group, then you possibly can’t be that unhealthy. For us, an important factor was to advance, and we managed that. Now we have to settle down, clear our heads after which maintain attacking,” added Sabitzer.
“A really unhealthy match, in all respects,” mentioned Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk. “We began weakly in possession and in duels. Then you might be behind the instances. It was a nasty night.”