Frunza sparks Moldovan frenzy

Moldova secured one of the finest results in their history with a 1-0 victory against Austria in UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying Group 3.

Frunza the hero

Schopp chance
Markus Schopp had Austria's best chance earlier in the second hald, but the Brescia Calcio midfield player missed the target after being set up by Michael Wagner.

Superb run and cross
Not long afterwards, Frunza took full advantage, the 23-year-old tapping in following a superb run and cross from the right by Serghei Covalciuc. Moldova then held on for their first UEFA European Championship victory since overcoming Georgia 3-2 in November 1995.

'A great team effort'
After the game, Moldova coach Viktor Pasulko said: "It was about time we finally won a game. I think we deserved this victory, it was a great team effort." His team remain bottom, however, and visit the unbeaten Czech Republic on Wednesday.

'Big disappointment'
Austria coach Hans Krankl, already pessimistic about their chances of qualifying before the match, said that it was time to look to the future. "It is a big disappointment for us," he admitted. "But we have to move on and we'll look to youth as we need to start a rebuilding process."

Four points adrift
The defeat leaves Austria in third place with three matches left, four points adrift of second place. They are at home to Belarus on Wednesday.