Wasteful Wales fall to Austrian sucker punch

Austria 1 Wales 0

Craig Bellamy and Ryan Giggs could both have easily scored hat-tricks as John Toshack’s side carved out plenty of opportunities.

The game looked like heading for a goalless draw when goalkeeper Danny Coyne’s error gifted Rene Aufhauser the winner with three minutes to go.

Craig Bellamy and Ryan Giggs started up front following John Hartson’s injury.

Craig Bellamy had a chance after two minutes but Payer blocked his weak effort with his legs.

Bellamy had the ball in the net after eight minutes but referee Gonzalez ruled the effort out for a foul.

Wales wasted another good chance on 19 minutes when Bellamy crossed into the box but Giggs’ effort cannoned away off Payer’s legs.

Anton Ehmann then smacked Robinson in the face but the Spanish official failed to spot the incident.

Christian Mayrleb tested Coyne with a low shot five minutes before half-time before Bellamy had a great chance. Simon Davies sent him clear but he lifted his shot over.

Giggs continued where he left off after the break and nearly gave his side the lead after 52 minutes.

Ricketts crossed for Giggs to send in an instant close-range hook that Payer superbly saved to his left.

Ivica Vastic came on after 54 minutes and almost scored with his first touch, turning to shoot from close range only for Gabbidon to make a timely deflected interception.

Austria began to take control and Vastic had a header wide before Ivanschitz was allowed far too much room on the edge of the box and fired a shot that cracked against the bar.

But it was Bellamy again who should have scored when an error by Aufhauser let him in, but after rounding Payer he was amazed to see his shot palmed away by the recovering keeper.

Three minutes from time disaster struck Wales when Coyne let Aufhauser’s low shot squirm under his body and into the net..

AUSTRIA: Payer, Katzer, Stranzl, Dospel (Kiesenebner 84), Ehmann, Aufhauser, Kirchler (Mair 77), Kuhbauer, Mayrleb, Ivanschitz, Haas (Vastic 55).

WALES: Coyne, Delaney, Gabbidon, James Collins (Page 58), Partridge, Ricketts, Davies, Fletcher, Robinson, Bellamy, Giggs.

Referee: Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).