Arnautovic penalty seals deserved Austria win and places Poland on brink

This sport was purported to be the second when Robert Lewandowski marked his arrival however an in the end complete defeat to Austria means Poland’s keep at this event is all however over. Marko Arnautovic capped victory from the penalty spot after Wojciech Szczesny upended Marcel Sabitzer, giving them hope of qualifying from Group D after they meet the Netherlands right here on Tuesday. On the eve of this sport Szczesny advised how Lewandowski’s presence would spook these opponents, however arguably Poland’s best export didn’t seem on the pitch till the hour and his influence was minimal at finest, 11 forgettable touches.

A peculiar occasion, a minimum of a lesser-spotted factor, occurred with 24 minutes exhibiting on the massive screens on three sides of this stadium, the Marathon Gate at one finish, as soon as house to the Olympic flame, which means a fourth is logistically tough if not unimaginable. Austria led 1-0 and appeared in whole management. Inside seconds of kick-off Marcel Sabitzer earned a throw-in excessive down the left flank and, weirdly, Poland appeared startled by Austria’s thirst to press excessive and quick.

However then Lewandowski jumped out of his seat within the far-left of Poland’s XXL dugout and fed his ideas right into a member of supervisor Michal Probierz’s backroom employees, who then relayed the message to a different Polish coach. No matter Lewandowski mentioned, it appeared to have the specified impact. Piotr Zielinski noticed a shot blocked a couple of minutes later and on the half-hour Poland equalised.

Maybe it was inevitable {that a} striker, who has been a revelation at membership stage, scoring a hat-trick in his final home sport however needed to make do with prepared his teammates on from the bench in defeat towards the Netherlands, would make a dent. Solely it was not Lewandowski however Krzysztof Piatek. Zielinski’s left-foot cross from the appropriate prompted issues and regardless of Gernot Trauner repelling Jan Bednarek’s shot on purpose, Piatek feasted on the rebound, shuffling his ft earlier than side-footing a shot into the nook previous Patrick Pentz within the Austria purpose. Poland’s supporters re-lit flares, turned up the amount and all of a sudden, regardless of a sluggish begin, they’d parity. Sabitzer flashed a shot extensive of a put up earlier than the interval and earlier was crowded out as he moseyed in the direction of purpose.

“Zusammen unter Osterreich stehen,” was the message in block capitals on a banner unfurled by Austria followers earlier than kick-off. Maybe their lightning begin stemmed from stomaching the group information, buoyed by Lewandowski solely beginning on the bench. They hounded Poland from the primary whistle and it appeared inevitable that in some unspecified time in the future they might acquire a significant benefit. Within the ninth minute Trauner, who changed Kevin Danso in defence, scored a sensible header.

Austria recycled the ball from a protracted throw and when Philipp Mwene swung in a cross from the left Trauner moved in the direction of the entrance put up to bury a robust header contained in the six-yard field. Rangnick tried his finest to maintain his feelings in test however couldn’t resist a fast kerching, clenching his left fist in celebration like a person who had simply gained £50 on the premium bonds. Moments later Marko Arnautovic, promoted to the beginning XI, swiped at purpose in the hunt for a second.

Stage on the break, each managers recognised there was room for enchancment. The Brighton midfielder Jakub Moder changed Jakub Piotrowski and Patrick Wimmer got here on for Florian Grillitsch, the latter’s first notable contribution a cynical problem on Nicola Zalewski which earned him a reserving from the Turkish referee, Halil Umut Meler.

Then Austria conceded one other low cost free-kick. Poland had been gaining momentum after which pulled out their trump card. Now it was Lewandowski taking directions. The 35-year-old wiped sweat off his brow together with his left forearm after which it was time to enter, instead of Adam Buksa, who scored their purpose towards the Netherlands final Sunday. Poland’s noisy supporters bellowed Lewandowski’s identify. The Barcelona striker had been within the field a matter of seconds when Stefan Posch hurriedly cleared for a nook.

It was one other substitute who made the distinction three minutes after coming into. Alexander Prass, on for Mwene, skipped unchallenged down the left after which handed infield, his low diagonal ball seemingly for the captain Arnautovic.

Or so Poland presumed as Arnautovic, who appears to relish the function of showman – both that or pantomime villain – allowed the ball to whistle between his legs, magically sliding open the doorways of the Austria defence. The ball was set completely for Baumgartner, who appeared up, picked his spot and curled previous Szczesny, who saved from Wimmer as Austria went for the jugular.

Baumgartner immediately made a beeline for Rangnick after scoring, giving his supervisor a bear hug whereas Lewandowski trudged again in the direction of midway.

Poland’s No 9 needed to do all of it once more when Arnautovic wrapped up victory from the penalty spot on 78 minutes, sending Szczesny the improper approach.