Austrian fightback cancels out Parrott double

UEFA Nations League Group B

Republic of Ireland 2-2 Austria

A Troy Parrott-inspired two-goal lead was wiped out in the space of five second-half minutes as the Republic of Ireland were forced to settle for a 2-2 UEFA Nations League draw with Austria at Aviva Stadium.

Parrott had put the Boys in Green in control by half-time with a solo goal for the ages, and capped it off with a penalty.

But goals from Austrian super subs Alexander Prass and Michael Gregoritsch scuppered Irish hopes of ending the night top of their group.

Amid the controversy over the two fixtures against Israel in this window as well as anticipated protests, it had been unclear how many spectators would attend the match and what reaction awaited the Irish players.

But after a morning which saw the FAI announce that the fixture was a sell-out, an official 45,784 attendance was relatively close to capacity.

Ireland were playing into the end housing the initially loud visiting support. But within a minute they were nearly caught out after a collision between Troy Parrott and Austrian centre-forward Sasa Kalajdzic on the halfway line.

With the referee not blowing for a foul, Kalajdzic tried to catch Caoimhin Kelleher off his line but the ball just sailed over

Ireland rallied quickly with an attack of their own as the sprightly Jack Moylan delivered a cross from the right which would have found Adam Idah but for the alertness of the Corkman’s marker at the near post.

The Boys in Green were snapping into challenges at that early juncture much to the liking of the supporters.

On 12 minutes, they would enjoy a moment even more to their liking. Ireland’s talisman Parrott would collect a flick on from strike partner Idah 40 yards out.

With no support around him, the Real Betis man darted straight at Philipp Leinhart, dispatching the centre-back with a cheeky nutmeg.

Not satisfied with that, he turned Fulham defender David Affengruber inside out, leaving the goalkeeper to beat.

Parrott sized up Florian Wiegele before calmly slotting the ball beyond him and into the bottom corner of the net.

Ireland were playing with an upbeat tempo with confidence coursing through their veins. But in the 20th minute, a tennis ball protest was staged as part of the Stop The Game campaign, although fewer made it onto the corners of the pitch compared to the friendly against Qatar in May.

The players were brought towards the side while those balls were removed and met by cheers when play resumed.

The visitors had the first clear chance after the resumption but midfielder Nicolas Siewald half-volleyed over after Kalajdzic had chested the ball into his path at the edge of the box.

Patrick Wimmer then had a snatched effort from just inside the box in the half hour under pressure from the Irish rearguard.

Austria were gaining a foothold at this point in the game and almost profited after a mix-up between Kelleher and Dara O’Shea.

Wimmer would have another strike from outside the box four minutes later but had to settle for a corner after Scales made the block.

Before that Austrian corner was delivered, a pitch invader carrying a Palestinian flag attempted to enter the field a short distance away along the touchline. However, he was apprehended by a cohort of security people and hauled away.

Austria attacked again on 39 minutes as Kalajdzic rolled Scales before trying to tee up Wimmer inside the area.

However, Kelleher was equal to his effort and got a strong hand to the ball to push it away for a corner.

But in the 42nd minute, Ireland fans had something to cheer about again. The home side got the ball into the box, sparking a moment of ping pong in the box.

Manning went down after a challenge from Nicolas Seiwald and referee Lindhout pointed to the spot.

Parrott stepped forward and the number seven sent Wiegele the wrong way with a composed kick, ensuring that the Irish went in with a two-goal advantage at the break.

Rangnick was clearly irritated by what he had seen from his side, making a triple change before the whistle for the second half. Bayern Munich regular Konrad Laimer was among them, having missed their earlier games due to injury.

The first 10 minutes of the second half were finely poised with both sides making furtive forays into each other’s territory, with a final ball the missing ingredient.

Ireland had one setback on the hour after the otherwise impressive James Abankwah was booked for a foul on Romano Schmid after trying to make up for giving the ball away.

Shortly after Hallgrimsson looked to shore up his side, bringing on Jayson Molumby for an impactful Idah, allowing Azaz to join Moylan in the space behind Parrott.

Austria tested Kelleher in the 70th minute with a low strike from distance. That proved a precursor for a moment that gave the visitors hope and planted a seed of doubt for Ireland.

Barely two minutes later, Wimmer nicked the ball off substitute Liam Kitching in the left corner of the Irish defence, before scurrying down the sideline.

His initial ball in was cut out but came straight back to him but at the second attempt found sub Alexander Prass who swept home.

However, the offside flag was raised. But Ireland’s relief would be shortlived as a VAR check confirmed that the goal would stand.

It would get worse for Ireland. Three minutes later, John Egan fouled Prass 30 yards out.

Another sub, Michael Gregoritsch, stood over it and seconds later, Kelleher could only watch as the ball evaded the wall and nestled into the far corner of the net.

With a healthy lead wiped out, Ireland rallied and on 78 minutes, captain O’Shea stung the palm of Wiegele with a snapshot from just inside the Austrian box.

The visitors threatened at the other end as Gregoritsch momentarily found space in the box but couldn’t keep his effort down.

As the game ticked into the last ten minutes, Austria seemed to have the slight edge.

At the other end, one slick Irish move went a begging as Azaz and sub Chiedozie Ogbene combined. A flick back towards Molumby appeared to show an opening but the midfielder played the ball backwards, a decision met with groans from the stands.

On 88 minutes, Austria threatened again as Kalajdzic nodded the ball down for Prass but the latter blazed over from close range.

The see-saw nature of the game then saw Ogbene burst down the right. His squared pass found Azaz but the Southampton midfielder swept a first-time shot high and off target.

Ogbene again delivered a cross in stoppage time which reached Manning at the far post. But on his weaker right foot, the wing back skewed his shot wide.

Neither side could fashion a winner, leaving Ireland third in the group behind Kosovo on head-to-head results.

Hallgrimsson’s side will now look to regain momentum when they head to Backa Topola in Serbia to face Israel in a ‘home’ game on Sunday.

Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher; James Abankwah (Jake O’Brien 75), Dara O’Shea, John Egan, Liam Scales (Liam Kitching 62), Ryan Manning; Conor Coventry, Finn Azaz; Jack Moylan (Tom Cannon 86), Troy Parrott (Chiedozie Ogbene 75), Adam Idah (Jayson Molumby 62)

Austria: Florian Wiegele; Stefan Posch, David Affengruber (Maximilian Wober 46), Philipp Lienhart, Phillipp Mwene; Nicolas Siewald (Konrad Laimer 46), Xaver Schlager (c); Patrick Wimmer, Carney Chukwuemeka (Michael Gregoritsch 46), Romano Schmid (Alexander Prass 67); Sasa Kalajdzic

Referee: Allard Lindhout (Netherlands)