Ten-man Austria claim narrow win in Moldova
Thursday, October 9, 2014
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Moldova 1-2 Austria
Marc Janko scored Austria's winner but was later sent off after David Alaba and Alexandru Dedov had swapped first-half penalties.
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• David Alaba's early penalty gives visitors the lead in Chisinau (12)
• Alexandru Dedov brings Moldova level, also from the spot (27)
• Marc Janko restores Austria's advantage following a corner (51)
• Austria hold on despite Janko's late red card after tangle with goalkeeper Ilie Cebanu
• Next games: Russia v Moldova, Austria v Montenegro (12 October)
Marc Janko scored the decisive goal as Austria edged out Moldova in UEFA European Championship Group G, although the striker's late red card left his side hanging on in the closing stages.
Austria could scarcely have begun better at the Zimbru Stadium, and Zlatko Junuzovic had already drawn a decent stop from home goalkeeper Ilie Cebanu by the time David Alaba opened the scoring in the 11th minute. Ion Jardan was penalised for pulling back Janko and Alaba tucked the penalty into the corner of the net, his second goal in as many qualifying games.
Moldova responded well to that early setback and Artur Ioniţa had their first glimpse of goal only to mistime his leap to meet Alexandru Gaţcan's left-wing cross. Although Marko Arnautovic then forced Cebanu to beat away his fierce drive, in the 27th minute Artur Ioniţa was impeded by Sebastian Prödl and Alexandru Dedov keeps his cool to slot the spot kick past Robert Almer.
Ioniţa might have turned the match on its head, volleying wide, although it was a busy end to the first half for Cebanu, who saved from Alaba and Prödl in quick succession. The keeper was beaten again six minutes after the restart, the towering Janko heading in Christian Fuchs's corner at the near post to restore Austria's lead.
Almer turned away Ioniţa's strike as Moldova sought a second equaliser, urged on by some vociferous home support, and Austria were left a man short when Janko was dismissed eight minutes from time after tangling with Cebanu. Moldova continued to press and when the ball fell to Eugeniu Sidorenco in added time an equaliser looked on the cards; instead the substitute fired over and Austria survived.