Austria bounce back with scalp in Zenica
Monday, September 9, 2013
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Bosnia-Herzegovina 0-2 Austria
Werner Gregoritsch's men dusted themselves off after last week's heavy defeat by Spain to record a second win in three Group 4 games.
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Austria bounced back from last week's heavy defeat by Spain to defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina courtesy of two first-half goals.
Thursday's 6-2 loss to the UEFA European Under-21 Championship holders in Graz put the brakes on Austria's start after an opening Group 4 success against Albania. Yet goals from Louis Schaub and Kevin Stöger got Werner Gregoritsch's men back on track and inflicted a second successive loss on the hosts.
It was Stöger who threatened first, having a free-kick from 25 metres well kept out by Kristijan Jajalo in the home goal before Haris Duljević failed to connect with a Goran Zakarić cross with only the keeper to beat five metres from goal.
The breakthrough came on 30 minutes when Schaub latched on to a bouncing ball in the area and turned it precisely into the net. The lead was doubled on the stroke of half-time as Stöger surged forward before driving in from just inside the area.
Sanjin Prcić fired over as he looked to respond for the home side after the break and Marko Maletić headed wide late on. Bosnia and Herzegovina will look to respond against champions Spain on 10 October, when Austria travel to top of the table Hungary.
