Romano Schmid (5th/penalty) and Junior Adamu (76th) gave the hosts hope with their seventh goals in this qualification. The Finns turned the game around with goals from Daniel Hakans (67′), Naatan Skyttä (83′) and Julius Tauriainen (89’/penalty). Austria fell behind Norway (3:2 once morest leaders Croatia) and the Finns fell back to fourth place. Only the winners and the best second of the nine groups are fixed at the EM. The other runners-up contest a play-off for participation.
After the game, Schmid did not spare criticism of the performance. “It’s extremely disappointing for all of us. We’ve got big plans and the game is off to a great start for us. But we get goals too easily, the whole qualification does,” said the professional from Werder Bremen in an ORF interview. “With all due respect, we get two or three goals from every team that has two or three good kickers. We don’t reward ourselves for our effort,” said Schmid.
U21 team misses out on participation in the European Championship
Austria’s U21 national team missed the chance to participate in the 2023 European Championship. The Austrians had to admit defeat in Ried Finland with 2:3.
With a narrow lead at the break
The Austrians set course early on towards the mandatory victory. After three and a half minutes, Schmid’s cross caught Ville Koski from Finland in the elbow, and the Swedish referee awarded a penalty. Schmid started and converted confidently. Austria needed only one goal to leave Finland behind in a direct duel.
But the guests were unimpressed. Finland had a much better chance of equalizing before the break. Niklas Hedl in goal, for example, turned a shot over the bar (26th) and had to intervene once more at the end of the first half.
Better ending for Finland
Schmid and Co. then came out of the dressing room better. Alexander Prass was close to making it 2-0 just 15 seconds following the restart, the Finnish goalie saved Adamu’s shot. On the other side, the defense was exposed in a quick counter-attack, not for the first time. Hakans passed captain Flavius Daniliuc and shot to level.
There was hope once more when Adamu headed a cross from substitute Jonas Auer into the goal. However, the end of a sometimes overly tough game belonged to the guests: Skyttä headed the equalizer following the ÖFB-Elf had looked bad once more on a counterattack, then Lukas Sulzbacher blocked a shot with his arm. Tauriainen safely converted the disputed penalty.
U21 European Championship Qualification, Group A
Austria – Finland 2:3 (1:0)
Ried
Torfolge:
1:0 Schmid (5./Elfmeter)
1:1 Hakans (67.)
2:1 Adamu (76.)
2: 2 Scythe (83rd)
2: 3 Tauriainen (89./Elfmeter)
Austria: Hedl – Affengruber, Daniliuc (77./Sulzbacher), Moormann – Strauss (58./Zimmermann), Taferner, Aiwu, Prass (58./Auer) – Wimmer – Schmid, Adamu
