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Austria vs. Poland


 
 

Quick Report: Austria 1-1 Poland


Written by: Stephen Sharp Bookmark and Share
2008-06-12 23:00:34

Ivica Vastic's penalty saved Austria
  Ivica Vastic's penalty saved Austria
VIENNA, Jun 12 (SW) - A late penalty goal by Ivica Vastic helped Austria to a 1-1 draw in Euro 2008 Group B with Poland after they had earlier missed a host of chances.

Austrian striker Martin Harnik got in behind a porous Poland defense and had a clear run at goal, but he was distracted by a charging Artur Boruc in the Polish goal, and he dragged the shot wide.

In the 14th minute, Harnik again wasted a chance when a cross found him in point-blank range of the goal, but he fired the shot right at Boruc. Two minutes later, Boruc again came to the rescue when he thwarted a break by Roland Linz on a swift counterattack.

Those mistakes came to haunt Austria on the half-hour when Roger Guerreiro tapped home from close range after Marek Saganowski's ball was deflected into his path by the fingertips of Austria goalkeeper Jürgen Macho.

Austria looked like they had no answers against an improved Poland side in the second half, but they had a never-say-die attitude and won a penalty in the third minute of stoppage time when Mariusz Lewandowski tugged down Sebastian Prödl in the area, and Vastic made no mistake from the penalty spot.

The result clinched first place in Group B for Croatia, as well.




Discuss

pain42 June 12nd, 2008 23:36

What a cheater! 1 million Poles in UK will NEVER forget what you've done, Webb.

miller88 June 12nd, 2008 23:48

Howard Webb, you should find another job. How about stand-up comedian?

Tontodonati June 13rd, 2008 02:26

You guys may not agree, but I think goalies have developed a foolish habit of trying to guess which way a penalty kick would go. They dive helplessly left and right without any idea of what they are doing. In today's game we saw the same thing even though it was a good kick to the right of the post. If goalies would remain in the middle of the net, they would save more goals than they would allow because many penalty kicks end up going in the center of the net or just a bit left or right of center. I do not know who initiated that foolish trend, but whoever he was, he was not thinking straight . As I said, you may disagree, but I believe I'm right!

shadowrouge99 June 13rd, 2008 03:31

lucky vastic, getting free beer for life