Rockier road to Rio

Republic of Ireland 2 Austria 2

Four points was always the required target for Ireland in these back-to-back games but, after doing the heavy lifting in Stockholm on Friday, they buckled under the weight of expectation in Dublin last night – the first time, after just 11 minutes, and then, heartbreakingly, in almost the very last act of a dramatic night.

Not for the first time, home advantage finally turned out to be nothing of the kind for the Irish at the Aviva as Austria, making the most of the kind of wintry conditions that must have almost made them feel at home instead, left with a vital away point in the three-horse race for a World Cup play-off place.

And it was cold comfort for Giovanni Trapattoni’s men that they had mounted a stirring comeback to be leading 2-1 when David Alaba popped up in time added on with a thumping strike to silence the premature Irish celebrations. As we have seen so often before, the Irish, more through lack of ingenuity than effort, couldn’t press home their advantage, never mind threaten to put the opposition to the sword, and in the end they and their manager were made to pay a heavy price.

The night have begun on a much more upbeat note than it would end, with confirmation that Marc Wilson, troubled by a groin strain since Friday, had come through a late fitness test. The Stoke full-back was one of the outstanding performers in Stockholm, his composure on the ball allowing him to defend with assurance but also to add significantly to Ireland’s attacking posture. With the even more adventurous Seamus Coleman on the opposite side, Wilson’s inclusion raised hopes that the home side would really be able to take the game to the opposition.

But the Irish game plan began to come apart almost straight from kick-off. Ominously, some, early giveaway passes yielded territory, with Austrian football’s rising star, David Alaba of Bayern Munich, getting the chance to trouble David Forde with a dipping free which drifted just wide.

Against the opposition’s three in the middle, Ireland’s 4-4-2 was again being exposed, especially since, unlike Sweden and the languid Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Stockholm, Austria had all their men willing to play a part. But it was Irish sloppiness which was punished in just the tenth minute when Ciaran Clark was robbed in possession by Zlatko Januzovic who squared for Martin Harnik to finish from close range.

The game now looked perfectly set up for Austria to play to their counter-attacking strengths. Irish desperation was visible as James McCarthy lunged for the ball, taking out Januzovic, who had to be replaced. The consequence for McCarthy was more long-term as he now misses the Faroes game in June. A too quickly taken Sammon free-kick that even caught out his own teammates confirmed Irish nerves but two touches of class changed things in the 23rd minute, Shane Long’s clever turn inviting Emanuel Pogatetz’ foul inside the box after Glenn Whelan had found the West Brom with a splendid through ball. The Croatian referee gave the penalty and Jon Walters, who has not had always had the happiest of experiences when put on the spot for Stoke this season, held his nerve to emphatically rattle the net.

With crowd and players lifted by the goal, Ireland finally injected real tempo into their play, James McClean an increasing threat with his runs though not always with his crosses, while it took the post to save Austria when the all-action Long backheeled against the woodwork.

The visitors’ reprieve only lasted until time added on, however, Whelan taking over the corner-taking duties from McClean and promptly finding the head of Walters for his and Ireland’s second goal.

A minute after the restart, McClean rippled the side-netting with a curving free-kick as the Irish looked to convert their fresh dominance into the goal that would give them additional room to breathe. But they also had to be wary of the Austrian response, Forde getting down well to save from Harnik.

Just past the hour mark, the home crowd were really rising to this gutsy Irish performance but there was still plenty of time for nervous moments with the scoreline continuing to show the home side with the narrowest of advantages, especially after Austrian ’keeper Linders kept his team in it when pulling off a spectacular tip-over to prevent a Garics own-goal.

Although Sean St Ledger replaced the injured Ciaran Clark, Trapattoni declined to change things until, with eight minutes to go, Long – who had run himself to a standstill – was replaced by Paul Green, Ireland now officially going 4-5-1 in a bid to secure the points.

But, just when it seemed they had done enough, David Alaba had the last say for Austria and, suddenly Giovanni Trapattoni’s decision not to give Wes Hoolahan a chance off the bench – and with it, perhaps, the opportunity for Ireland to better retain possession as the clock ran down — had now to be seen in a different, harsher light.

Such, as the manager himself knows full well, is the primacy of the result.

Still only at the halfway point in Group C qualifying, it would be premature to write off Ireland’s chances of claiming second place but there’s no escaping the fact that this could yet turn out to be a mortal blow.And the disappointment of the result against Austria also suggests that, after a mere five days, all the talk of a new dawn under Trapattoni really amounts to not a great deal more than that which was most conspicuously absent at the freezing Aviva Stadium last night – a bit of hot air.

Subs for Ireland: S St Ledger for Clark (73); P Green for Long (83).

Subs for Austria: J Baumgartlinger for Junuzovic (25); M Janko for Hosiner (62); A Weimann for Kavlak (69).

Referee: M Strahonja (Croatia).