The game was bitter for Martin Scherb’s team from the start. Two early injury-related failures of top performers and above all an exclusion immediately before the break were ultimately too much. The playfully disappointing Slovaks secured fifth and last place in the European World Cup with their only chance to score, which Samuel Kopasek (64th) converted.
After just two minutes, ÖFB captain Ervin Omic injured his left knee in a foul by Viktor Sliacky and was unable to continue playing due to a suspected cruciate ligament injury. Justin Omoregie, who had to leave the field injured after a tackle, was hit after 21 minutes.
Even without the duo, the Austrians were the decisive team in the hectic game. And also had a great chance to take the lead, but Jakob Knollmüller shot too quickly (43′). The next setback came in added time in the first half: Nico Wustinger had to leave the field with a yellow card (45+3), and goalkeeper Elias Scherf took the resulting free kick from the corner.
At over 30 degrees, the young Austrians were the better team against the harmless Slovakians. But one action was enough for the EM hosts to win in front of 4,087 spectators: Kopasek hit the far corner from the penalty area.
In injury time, the weak Belgian referee Nathan Verboomen sent the Slovakian team boss Albert Rusnak onto the stands with a red card and later Austria’s creative man Yusuf Demir with a yellow card (95′). After the end of the game, ÖFB defender Lukas Wallner also saw yellow and red.
Source: Nachrichten
