Belgium and Austria serve up eight-goal draw

Martin Harnik's equaliser three minutes into added time ensured Austria remain second in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group A after an astonishing match against Belgium in Brussels.

It could have been so much better for the ten-man visitors, who had Paul Scharner dismissed midway through the second half but were nonetheless leading 3-2 until Marvin Ogunjimi struck an 87th-minute equaliser. Having twice been behind, Belgium remarkably looked to have secured victory when Nicolas Lombaerts headed past Jürgen Macho in the final minute of normal time, only for Harnik to restore parity with the eighth goal of the night seconds from the end.

Clearly not dwelling on losing Daniel Van Buyten to injury in the warm-up, Belgium opened the scoring after 11 minutes, Jelle Vossen dispatching Ogunjimi's square ball into the top corner. Franz Schiemer, who had been caught out of position for the opener, made amends soon after, however, by rising highest to head in Zlatko Junuzović's corner.

Belgium continued to retain a degree of control on proceedings but fell behind close to the half-hour when Marko Arnautović played a one-two with Junuzović and struck a powerful shot inside the near post. Macho began the second half by parrying an effort from Axel Witsel, yet he was powerless to prevent Marouane Fellaini nodding in Jan Vertonghen's cross within two minutes of the restart.

It was now an open game yielding chances for both sides and Austria were next to strike, Schiemer forcing the ball in following a scramble inside the area on 62 minutes. Scharner departed six minutes later for violent conduct, yet it was not until the closing stages that Belgium began to make their numerical advantage tell.

In a frantic finale, Ogunjimi restored parity for Belgium, who then found themselves ahead when Lombaerts headed in Eden Hazard's corner. A goal and a man to the good, Belgium seemed destined to build on Friday's 2-0 win in Kazakhstan. Harnik had other ideas, however, and ran on to Julian Baumgartlinger's pass before beating Logan Bailly via a low shot.