Valentino Lazaro’s late strike for Austria ends Northern Ireland’s search for point
Valentino Lazaro broke Northern Ireland hearts as he struck a winner for Austria with virtually the last kick of the game at Windsor Park.
Corry Evans’s first international goal in eight years had cancelled out Xaver Schlager’s opener and looked to have earned Northern Ireland their first point in the Nations League. But Lazaro fired the ball into the top corner after Stuart Dallas lost possession on another frustrating night for Michael O’Neill’s side.
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With Northern Ireland’s relegation already certain after three straight defeats, there was a rather flat atmosphere in the ground which would soon be reflected on the pitch in a first half of few chances. The home team began brightly enough, with Liam Boyce using his physical presence to worry the Austria defence as he held the ball up.
When the Burton Albion striker was dispossessed in the sixth minute the ball fell for Corry Evans, whose deflected shot was touched over by the back-peddling Heinz Lindner. But Austria were growing into the game as they constantly looked for David Alaba down the left. The Bayern Munich midfielder curled a free-kick just over after being brought down by George Saville, although Trevor Carson looked to have it covered anyway.
As the half wore on both sides began to get bogged down in a midfield battle, with neither team able to create much. A minute before half-time, Saville won a free-kick on the edge of the area but Niall McGinn’s shot curled inches wide.
Austria needed just four minutes of the second half to break the deadlock. Steven Davis failed to cut out a low cross from substitute Peter Zulj as Alaba played a neat dummy and Schlager darted in front of Saville to arrow a shot in to the far corner.
The goal brought the match – and Northern Ireland – to life and they were level in the 57th minute. Jordan Jones strode towards goal before slipping the ball in to Evans, whose low shot deflected off Martin Hinteregger for the equaliser.
West Ham’s Marko Arnautovic came on for the last 20 minutes and was soon involved as he laid the ball off for Alaba but this time he blazed over. Then, just as it appeared Northern Ireland had earned a point, Dallas gave the ball away and Arnautovic played in Lazaro to deliver the final blow.