(CNN) -- Croatia held off a furious late onslaught from Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria to win 1-0 in their opening Group B match in Vienna on Sunday. Emmanuel Pogagtetz, left, fouls Croatia striker Ivica Olic to concede the match-winning penalty. The Croatians took the lead in the fourth minute when midfielder Luka Modric coolly slotted home from the penalty spot after Emmanuel Pogatetz clumsily body-checked striker Ivica Olic in the area. Slaven Bilic's team dominated the first half, and should have gone further ahead in the 35th minute but Olic's strike partner Mladen Petric blazed over the bar with a left-foot volley after beating the offside trap to run on to Vedran Corluka's cross.
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Croatia beat Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria 1-0 in opening Group B match
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Luka Modric scores fourth-minute penalty after striker Ivica Olic is fouled
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Austria battle back in the second half but miss a series of late chances
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Croatia next play Germany on Thursday, while Austria take on Poland
The winning goal came after Modric and Olic combined down the left wing from a throw-in, and @placeholder clearly impeded the striker well away from the Austria goal.