LAST-MINUTE HEARTBREAK BY VALENTINO
y we played in a very attacking way. We could have had more.
“We had a lot of runners from middle to front. We had a lot of players who play in a similar way for their club sides. That did help.
“Everyone knew the system. It worked really well. We just need to make sure we don’t take it for granted on Tuesday. We will start again.”
Forrest’s devastating display made it all the more bizarre that he was left out of the previous two Nations League games.
There was no room for him Albania at Hampden or in Israel, but a shift in the set-up cut him loose and it is hard now to see any reason why he would not be one of the first names on the teamsheet.
His first goal came when he raced through the middle onto a Christie pass to fire home.
The second was a right-foot dink to beat a defender followed by a left foot volley.
Fraser set Scotland on their way in the 14th minute when he took a pass from Christie, turned onto his right foot inside the box and curled the ball into the far corner.
Fletcher (left) doubled Scotland’s lead from the spot in first-half injury time after Rey Manaj was perhaps harshly ruled to have handled a Stuart Armstrong free-kick.
C Evans Schlager Lazaro
VALENTINO LAZARO broke Northern Irish hearts as he hit Austria’s winner with virtually the last kick of the game.
Corry Evans’ first international goal in eight years cancelled Xaver Schlager’s opener and looked to have earned Northern Ireland their first point in the Nations League.
But Lazaro curled the ball into the top corner after Stuart Dallas lost possession in another frustrating night for Michael O’Neill’s men.
Second-half substitute Marko Arnautovic (above, clashing with Gareth McAuley) set up the winner and he said: “In the first half we didn’t manage the game. We know when we play Northern Ireland they will put in long balls and fight for the second ball.
“But we did well, without creating too many chances. It was the hope from the gaffer when he put me on that we would create more chances – and we did. I could have scored if I’d controlled the ball better.
“We wanted to come here and finish off well with a win and we did that.”
The West Ham forward has been nursing a knee injury, but he does not expect to miss out for his club side against Manchester City on Saturday: “I will be OK,” he added.
With Northern Ireland’s relegation already certain following three straight defeats, there was a flat atmosphere in the ground which would be reflected on the pitch in a first half of few chances.
Austria needed just four minutes of the second half to break the deadlock.
Steven Davis failed to cut out a low cross from substitute Peter Zulj as David Alaba played a neat dummy and Schlager darted in front of George Saville to arrow a shot into the far corner.
The goal brought the match – and Northern Ireland – to life.
They launched a halfhearted appeal for a penalty when Jonny Evans tumbled over Aleksandar Dragovic.
Niall McGinn then played in Davis, whose low shot was blocked by Dragovic before McGinn fired over the rebound.
And Northern Ireland were level in the 56th minute. Jordan Jones strode towards goal before slipping the ball in to Corry Evans.
The Blackburn man took a touch before striking a low shot which deflected in off Martin Hinteregger.
NORTHERN IRELAND: AUSTRIA: REF: