Austria defeated the home side, Moldova, by a score line of 1-2, as they escape with all three points in the match. Two first half spot kicks saw Austria go into the interval with a bit of worry on their faces. Fortunately, new Sydney FC striker Marc Janko found the back of the net shortly after the restart gave the Austrians the three points as they saw out the rest of the match.
Moldova did not have a lot of possession in the first 45 minutes, but they pressed well in their attacking third. However, Austria are more much more skilled than their opposition and were able to maneuver themselves out of most tight jams they were forced into. Marko Arnautovic found Zlatko Junuzovic in the ninth minute of play with a beautiful touch, but the latter hit his shot right into hands in the Moldovan goalkeeper. Finally, in the 11th minute, Austria took the lead after David Alaba sent Ilie Cebanu the wrong way and slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.
The home side put together a well worked move all over the pitch as they strung some excellent passes together, but the final touch from Artur Ionita’s did not pan out and turned the ball over back to Austria, around the 20th minute mark. Arnautovic shot a rocket with his right boot from the top of the 18 yard box minutes later, but Cebanu stood tall and managed to push the ball out. Sebastian Prodl pulled the shirt of Ionita and Alexandru Dedov places the ball powerfully into the back of the net to level the match in the 26th minute.
Janko’s header from inside the eighteen yard box, close to the six yard box, is looped over the bar but it took a deflection and went out for a corner. Moments later, the striker headed the ball powerfully past the Moldovan goalkeeper as Austria finally got something past the spectacular Cebanu. Austria found their rhythm again in the second half as they were defending well and breaking forward with some crisp passing that broke down the Moldovan defense time and time again.
There was not much to note in the second half other than the goal from Janko as the superior ability from Austria was outdone by a really good, hardworking Moldovan side. The visitors were happy to try to maintain possession of the ball and not do anything stupid that might give the home side even the slightest look at stealing a point, which would have been detrimental to Austria’s chance of making the 2016 European Championship.
The goal scorer, Marc Janko, was sent off in the second half in what really was an idiotic moment from the striker as he lashed out at the Moldovan goalkeeper for no real reason. Thankfully though, the home side were unable to take advantage of the situation as the visitors managed to hold on to the one goal lead and the three points. Moldova next have to travel to Moscow to take on a very strong Russian side as Austria play hosts Montenegro, who have given trouble to some bigger sides in recent times.