The Republic of Ireland were held to a 2-2 draw by Austria in their third UEFA Nations League Group B encounter following an exciting contest at the Aviva Stadium. 

Individual brilliance and a confidently converted penalty earned Troy Parrott a first-half brace, but two goals in the space of six second-half minutes saw Austria draw level. It was an impressive performance from the Boys in Green against a side ranked some 30 places above them, and it keeps Ireland in contention for promotion from Group B.

Heimir Hallgrímsson made three changes from the side that defeated Israel in Hungary, with Liam Scales, Finn Azaz, and John Egan coming into the starting XI. Ralf Rangnick made five changes to the Austria side that defeated Kosovo in Vienna.

The first sight of goal came in the second minute when Kalajdzic gathered the ball just inside the Irish half and spotted Kelleher off his line, but his long-range effort sailed over the bar. Ireland responded positively and enjoyed a series of attacking phases; despite plenty of forward play, Austria’s defence remained resolute.

Ireland opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Troy Parrott collected an Adam Idah pass inside the Austrian half and weaved his way through the defensive line, leaving the Austrian defenders in his wake. Finding himself one-on-one with Wiegele, Parrott calmly slotted the ball under the goalkeeper to complete a sublime individual goal.

Austria enjoyed a spell of attacking pressure, but Ireland’s defence held firm, with Abankwah and O’Shea marshalling the backline against the visitors’ attacking threat. Austria had another sight of goal in the 24th minute when Kalajdzic chested the ball into the path of the advancing Seiwald, whose looping effort sailed just over Kelleher’s far post.

Ireland had a great chance to add a second moments later when Parrott and Idah combined, with Parrott playing the ball into the path of Idah, but it was taken off the striker’s foot just as he was about to pull the trigger.

Austria had two further chances in quick succession in the 30th minute, with Wimmer seeing an effort comfortably saved by Kelleher before Schlager’s attempt was well blocked by Scales.
Caoimhín Kelleher produced a superb save in the 40th minute when Kalajdzic, despite being under pressure from the Irish defence, managed to lay the ball off to Wimmer, whose first-time effort was brilliantly pushed around the post by the diving Ireland goalkeeper.

Ireland were awarded a penalty in the 44th minute after Ryan Manning was fouled inside the area by Seiwald following a poor defensive clearance from Mwene. Troy Parrott stepped up and confidently sent Wiegele the wrong way, with his spot-kick striking the upright before finding the back of the net to double Ireland’s advantage.

In the second half, both sides produced some promising build-up play, but both defences were equal to the threat. Liam Scales once again demonstrated the value of his defensive presence, while Wiegele dealt comfortably with the deliveries sent into the Austrian penalty area.

Kelleher was called into action in the 60th minute when Schmid sent a dangerous delivery into the area from a free kick, but the Irish goalkeeper was equal to it, clearing the ball despite coming under immense pressure from the advancing Austrian attackers.

Ireland had two further sights of the Austrian goal in the 68th minute. Jack Moylan’s free kick, awarded following a brilliant solo run down the right, was cleared before Finn Azaz delivered an excellent defence-splitting cross which was put behind for a corner.

Austria reduced the deficit in the 72nd minute when Wimmer won the ball on the edge of the Irish penalty area and, despite the best efforts of the Ireland defence, the loose ball fell to Prass, who slammed it into the roof of the net.

Austria levelled the contest in the 76th minute when the visitors were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Irish penalty area. Second-half substitute Gregoritsch stepped up and curled the ball around the Irish wall and into the bottom-left corner.

Dara O’Shea looked certain to restore Ireland’s lead in the 79th minute following a Manning cross into the Austrian penalty area. O’Shea met the ball with an excellent strike from the edge of the area that looked destined for the roof of the net, only for Wiegele to deny him with a superb save.

Gregoritsch had a chance to give the visitors the lead in the 80th minute when a clever knockdown from Kalajdzic on the edge of the Irish penalty area found the Austrian forward, but his first-time effort looped over the bar.

This was followed by an Austrian counter-attack in the 84th minute, with Laimer looking certain to score before Coventry produced a perfectly timed block to send the effort behind for a corner.

Prass had a chance to win the contest in the 89th minute when Kalajdzic’s knockdown inside the area found his Austrian teammate, but his first-time volley sailed over the bar.

Ireland launched a brilliant counter-attack in the 90th minute when Ogbene broke at pace down the right before looking up and picking out the run of Azaz, whose first-time effort from the edge of the area was always rising over the bar.

This was followed by another glorious chance as Kelleher’s quick thinking from a set piece released Ogbene down the right. He played an excellent ball across the face of the Austrian goal, but Ryan Manning’s effort at the back post went just wide.

Ireland will complete the international window with a trip to Serbia, where they will face Israel in their final UEFA Nations League fixture before the competition resumes in November.

Republic of Ireland: Kelleher (GK), Abankwah (O’Brien 74), Scales (Kitching 62), O’Shea (C), Parrott (Ogbene 74), Idah (Molumby 62), Azaz, Coventry, Egan, Moylan (Cannon 87), Manning.
Subs not used: Bazunu (GK), O’Leary (GK), Knight, Vata, Elding, Dunne, Phillips.

Austria: Wiegele (GK), Affengruber (Wöber 46), X. Schlager (C), Posch, Seiwald (Laimer 46), Kalajdzic, Lienhart, Mwene, Chukwuemeka (Gregoritsch 46), Schmid (Prass 67), Wimmer.
Subs not used: A. Schlager (GK), Bignetti (GK), Bacher, Lang, Adamu, Grüll, Friedl.

Booked: Abankwah (IRL), Manning (IRL), Wöber (AUT)

Sky Player of the Match: Troy Parrott

Attendance: 45,782