Conceded Goal in Injury Time: ÖFB Team Suffers Qualifying Setback in Romania

Austria's national football team had to suffer its first setback in the World Cup qualification. The ÖFB team was defeated 0:1 (0:0) in Bucharest on Sunday after conceding a goal in the 95th minute. The blow was dealt to the Austrians by the substitute central defender Virgil Ghita. Austria still leads Group H, two points ahead of the first pursuer Bosnia, after five wins in five games.

World Cup ticket remains within reach, pressure grows

Theoretically, the ÖFB team could still slip to third place in the remaining two rounds and thus miss not only the direct ticket for the 2026 World Cup in North America but also the playoff for the group runners-up. Bosnia and Herzegovina now have the World Cup participation back in their own hands, but would have to win against Romania on November 15 and against Austria in Vienna on November 18. The Austrians will play their next match in Cyprus on November 15.

Romanians more dangerous

There were the expected changes in the ÖFB starting lineup. Alexander Schlager took over in goal from Patrick Pentz. In the back four, Philipp Lienhart and Phillipp Mwene replaced Kevin Danso and Alexander Prass three days after the 10:0 record victory against San Marino. In the offensive center, Christoph Baumgartner, who was resting against San Marino due to heel problems, joined the team, while the new ÖFB record goal scorer Marko Arnautovic was on the bench. Michael Gregoritsch acted as the lone striker.

Among the 39,581 spectators in the far from full Arena Nationala were more than 1,000 ÖFB fans and Austria's Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger. They saw a combative match in which the Austrians had slightly more possession before the break, but the Romanians had the more dangerous scenes. Valentin Mihaila sent a bicycle kick just left of the goal (7th) as did Andrei Ratiu with a long-range shot (15th).

In the ÖFB selection, offensively, little to nothing came together. The only shot towards the goal was set by Romano Schmid far over (37.). David Alaba had to save after his teammate Lienhart lost a duel against Romania's center forward Daniel Birligea (42.). The Romanians had more drive towards the goal, but the hosts also did not find any really compelling chances in the first 45 minutes.

Conceded Goal in the 95th Minute

The Austrians became somewhat more active after the change of sides. A shot aimed at the near top corner by Marcel Sabitzer was saved by Ionut Radu (49.). Romania's goalkeeper was also alert with a Baumgartner pass towards Konrad Laimer (56.). However, the Romanians remained more dangerous: Mihaila slammed a shot from 20 meters against the left post (60.), Dennis Man shot over from a similar position (62.).

ÖFB team coach Ralf Rangnick brought Florian Grillitsch and Alexander Prass into the game in the 65th minute. After a ball loss by Grillitsch, Schlager had to muster all his skills to defuse a top chance from the advancing Andrei Ratiu (69.). The Austrians seemed to be taking the point from Bucharest, before Ghita struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The center-back headed a cross from Romania's captain Ianis Hagi into the goal. He had previously prevailed against Prass, and the ÖFB selection had only cleared Prass's cross pass to Hagi.

The first leg against the Romanians was won by the Austrians at the start of the qualifiers in June in Vienna with 2:1. The first World Cup participation since 1998 is still within reach, but the ÖFB team is now under a bit more pressure in November. In Cyprus, two players, captain Alaba and Mwene, are also suspended. Both defensive players received yellow cards with consequences in the second half in Bucharest.

(APA/Red)

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