Switzerland edge hosts Austria

Switzerland joined Serbia at the top of Group 7 after getting their elite round campaign off to a winning start, beating section hosts Austria 3-2.

Austria scored early on and struck again at the end of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship encounter in Schwaz. However, after Anthony Sauthier levelled matters, Steven Zuber and Taulant Xhaka registered in the second half to secure Switzerland all three points.

FC Bayern München midfielder David Alaba was involved in Austria's best moments and helped set up the opening goal after six minutes. His searching cross found Christoph Knasmüllner who teed up Andreas Weimann for an easy finish. Alaba then put in Weimann again, but the Aston Villa FC striker could not repeat the trick.

Sauthier equalised in the 26th minute with a superb header from Marco Aratore's free-kick, and in a tight second half, it was Switzerland who forced the breakthrough with 16 minutes remaining – Zuber finding the net from a tricky angle. Alaba hit the post in the 87th minute with a free-kick, but a quick counterattack finished off by Xhaka gave Martin Trümpler's side a two-goal cushion which proved to be crucial when Marco Djuricin got one back in added time.

Trümpler praised his team's performance after "a bad start" saying: "We controlled the match were physically stronger in the second half." Home coach Andreas Heraf said: "After the first goal we had opportunities to score a second, but could not take our chances and we lost belief when it went 1-1."