Manic Marko lifts Austrians
MINNOWS NO MATCH IN THE END
MARKO ARNAUTOVIC lost it just for a change as Austria dashed North Macedonia’s dream of carving out their own bit of history. In seven previous attempts, the Austrians had not won a Euros match. But goals from substitutes Michal Gregoritsch and maverick ex-West Ham star Arnautovic finally put paid to the minnows after Stefan Lainer’s brilliant opening strike.
Arnautovic celebrated manically as he slotted home the 89th-minute goal and skipper David Alaba forcibly tried to shut him up as he ranted.
The previous two were celebrated with more class, with both goalscorers holding up a shirt saying ‘Eriksen stay strong’.
Austria’s manager Franco Foda said: “We wanted to win at all costs and make sure we started in a positive way. I told the team they could make history and that was our aim.” Minnows North Macedonia, ranked 62nd in the world, made a brave fight of it after falling behind in the 18th minute to a goal of absolute class from full-back Lainer.
He steamed in at the far post to steer home an angled volley after giving Leeds star Ezgjan Alioski the slip. It could so easily have been a killer blow for the lowestranked side in the tournament but it only served to rally them.
And it was 37-year-old legend Goran Pandev who got them back on level terms with his 38th international goal. There was a touch of farce about it with Martin Hunteregger’s attempted clearance striking a team-mate and causing chaos.
Striker Aleksi Trajkovski clattered into keeper Daniel Bachmann contesting the ball, which then spilled out straight into the path of Pandev. The fairytale was well and truly on but the Austrians had other ideas and nothing was going to stop them.
Goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski did his best to keep them at bay with one superb flying stop to flick away a Gregoritsch header.
But the Austrian sub was not to be denied in the 78th minute when he pounced on a superb cross from Alaba to steer the ball home from six yards. Right on full-time, Arnautovic sealed it.
AUSTRIA (4-4-2): Bachmann 6; Hinteragger 7, Dragovic 6(Lienhart 46), Lainer 7; Alaba 7, Hinteregger 7 Schlager 6, Laimar 7, Baumgartner 6 (Gregoritsch 57, 8); Sabitzer 8, Kalajdzic 7 (Arnautovic 57, 7).Goals: Lainer 18, Gregoritsch 78, Arnautovic 89.
NORTH MACEDONIA(5-3-2): Dimitrievski 8; Alioski 7, Musilu 7 (M Ristovski 87), Velkovski 7, S Ristovski 6, Nikolov 7 (Bejtulai 63, 6); Elmas 7, Ademi 7, Bardhi 6 (Trichtovski 82); Pandev 8, Trajovski 7 (Kostadinov 63, 6). Goal: Pandev 28.