Parrott double not enough as Ireland draw 2-2 with Austria

Troy Parrott scored twice but it was not enough to earn the Republic of Ireland a second straight win, as Austria fought back to draw 2-2 in a Nations League Group B3 game at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday. The match was twice briefly interrupted by protests in the first half before Austria's substitutes turned the contest around after the break.

Ireland had looked in control after Parrott's double, but two second-half errors allowed Alexander Prass and Michael Gregoritsch to level the scores and earn Austria a point that keeps them top of Group B3.

Parrott opens the scoring

Ireland returned to Dublin for their first competitive outing on home soil since beating Portugal 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier 11 months ago, and Parrott, who scored both goals in that match, again had his name up in the Aviva lights early.

Having picked the ball up just outside the centre circle, Parrott poked it through the legs of Philipp Lienhart before skipping past David Affengruber and coolly slotting a right-footed effort under goalkeeper Florian Wiegele on 12 minutes.

Heimir Hallgrímsson opted for an attack-minded line-up that included the returning Finn Azaz in a deeper midfield role behind Parrott, Adam Idah and Jack Moylan, and Ireland carried the sharpness they had shown in Israel into the opening period. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, meanwhile, returned to the bench after making himself unavailable for both Israel matches.

The protests

Two short breaks in play punctuated the first half. Tennis balls were thrown on to the pitch in the 19th minute by those protesting the Republic of Ireland's games against Israel, featuring the Palestine flag and "Stop the Game" text, and referee Allard Lindhout paused the action while stewards cleared them. Then, in the 35th minute, a man carrying a Palestine flag entered the field of play but was quickly tackled by security.

The penalty

Following the second stoppage, Ireland doubled their lead from the spot. Azaz's pass to Ryan Manning set up the wing-back's cross, which caused havoc in the Austrian defence before Manning was fouled by Nicolas Seiwald. Parrott drove the ball home confidently from 12 yards.

The hosts, who opened the campaign with a 1-0 loss to Kosovo in Pristina, looked on course for another impressive victory at the interval, and the second half had barely begun before Austria's changes took effect.

Austria's comeback

Ralf Rangnick introduced attacker Michael Gregoritsch and defenders Konrad Laimer and Maximilian Wöber at the break, and those changes helped Austria gain control of a game they had previously been second best in.

Prass, who replaced Romano Schmid, slammed a high shot home after Ireland defender Liam Kitching was caught out. While the offside flag was raised, the goal was awarded following a video assistant referee check.

Austria only had to wait six minutes to level, as Gregoritsch curled a free-kick past the wrong-footed Caoimhin Kelleher. Ireland had looked disjointed since the first Austrian goal went in, and the momentum had fully swung.

Chances for a late winner

Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages. Austria's Saša Kalajdžić knocked the ball down to Prass, who blazed over the crossbar from close range in the 89th minute, while Gregoritsch had earlier fired over after being played in by Kalajdžić. Ireland captain Dara O'Shea forced a fine save from Wiegele, and Chiedozie Ogbene found Finn Azaz with a deep cross, only for the midfielder to slice a first-time effort wide.

Tom Cannon replaced the exhausted Jack Moylan in the closing minutes, and three minutes of additional time were played without a breakthrough.

What the managers said

Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson said: "Obviously you're disappointed to lose a two-goal advantage but on the other hand you're really happy how we played the first half.

"Coming into the Aviva, feeling the support of the fans gave everyone a boost before the game. We were better than them in the first half, they were better than us in the second.

"It is a tough opponent, physical, hard-working, hard-pressing, we knew it would cost energy and coming into this fixture with all that's been going on before this game, we knew that we would need to do substitutions.

"So mixed emotions - happy with the goals we scored, unhappy with the goals we conceded."

Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick said: "In the first 20 minutes we lacked a bit of energy. Ireland came at us, we lacked control but our changes in the second half helped us get a grip on the game.

"Ireland were very strong. It was similar to the way they played against Israel.

"I think especially with this being their first game played in their own stadium, played in front of fans, they were determined to really put on a good face and we saw that in the first half.

"I had to talk to my players about that. That's why we made changes at half-time. We came out much better after those changes."

Where the group stands

The result leaves Ireland third in Group B3 on four points from three games, level with Kosovo but behind them on goal difference, with Austria top on seven and Israel bottom on one after a 0-0 draw with Kosovo in the evening's other group fixture. In League B, the top two in each group progress to the quarter-finals.

Ireland wrap up the window by travelling to Serbia for their second fixture against Israel on Sunday, while Austria take on Kosovo in Pristina.

SportsLigue