The Austrians moved into second place behind Norway in Group 3 of League B. The goals were scored by Christoph Baumgartner (10th), Philipp Lienhart (54th), Marcel Sabitzer (56th) and Matthias Seidl (79th).
Rangnick relied on Junior Adamu in the center of the attack. The Freiburg legionnaire was given preference over Marko Arnautovic. His club colleague Michael Gregoritsch, who had just recovered from a torn muscle fiber, was missing due to a flu-like infection. As expected, Gernot Trauner started in central defense alongside Philipp Lienhart. Salzburg reservist Alexander Schlager was able to gain match practice in goal, but EM goalie Patrick Pentz should be back in action on Sunday in the showdown against the Norwegians.
Prass suspended against Norway
The most noticeable man of the first 20 minutes will be missing from the ÖFB team against the Norwegians. Alexander Prass received a yellow card early on and is suspended. Previously, the Hoffenheim legionnaire had fired a first warning shot on the left outside bar (3′), tested Kazakhstan’s goalie Igor Shatskiy with a free kick from the corner of the penalty area (8′) and made another dangerous knock (9′).
Austria was rewarded early for its initial enthusiasm. After his Leipzig colleague Nicolas Seiwald won the ball against Kazakhstan captain Askhat Tagybergen, Baumgartner pulled up and rolled the ball into the far corner. For the 25-year-old, it was the sixth ÖFB goal this year and the seventh in the last twelve international matches. The Lower Austrian ensured that the ÖFB selection has now scored at least once in 23 of their most recent 24 games.
Austria started dominantly
The Austrians clearly dominated the game in front of 14,500 spectators and could have taken a bigger lead in the first half. A shot from Konrad Laimer narrowly missed the top corner (16th), a Prass cross landed on the crossbar (18th). In addition, after Shatskiy made eleven-point contact against Baumgartner, there was no penalty despite a VAR check (20th). Adamu caught the eye on the offensive with an air mesh (26th), in the next action he put the ball on the bar from close range after strong Laimer preparatory work.
On the other hand, Stanislaw Tschertschessov’s team only posed a threat once, when Lienhart cleared a header from Baktiyor Zainutdinov after a corner (40′). After the break, the Kazakh penalty area was on fire again after a Trauner header (47′). Adamu was denied by Shatskiy (48th), in the next action the 23-year-old hesitated too long in the penalty area after another Baumgartner pass and was separated from the ball.
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Image: (APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)
Source: Nachrichten
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