Greece grateful for late penalty

A stoppage-time penalty by Greek captain Dimitrios Diamantakos earned a draw against Austria to keep the UEFA European Under-17 Championship elite round Group 3 hosts on course for the finals.

Greece, who began the group by beating the Republic of Ireland 3-0 while Austria held Finland 3-3, took the lead early on. Two Dominik Burusic goals then turned the tide before the break, only for sustained second-half pressure from the home side to finally tell at the death. A win for Greece against Finland on Wednesday would take them to their first U17 finals.

There were just five minutes on the clock when Greece went ahead, Konstantinos Rougkalas flicking the ball past goalkeeper Richard Strebinger following a corner by Spyridon Fourlanos. Their joy was shortlived, however, as Burusic tapped in the rebound after a Kevin Stöger shot had been saved by Stefanos Kapino. Burusic's second then came in the 32nd minute, the FC Bayern München striker converting from the spot after Ioannis Polychronakis was adjudged to have tugged his shirt in the penalty area.

It was one-way traffic after the interval as Greece came out determined to get back into the game. Charalampos Lykogiannis headed against the crossbar and Strebinger saved at substitute Fotios Kaimakoudis's feet. Kaimakoudis was giving Greece new impetus down the left, but it seemed time would run out until Diamantakos was brought down in the box by Fabian Hafner, who was sent off. The captain promptly made the most of his penalty to secure a draw. Austria now must beat Ireland on Wednesday and hope Greece falter against Finland.