Republic of Ireland and Austria don meet for Aviva Stadium in Dublin, and Troy Parrott kick off for the hosts. There was a huge roar at the end of Amhrán na bhFiann from the Republic of Ireland fans in attendance, who certainly keen to get behind their side for this game. Today game between Ireland and Austria kick off at 19:45.
Republic of Ireland press really high in the opening stages and Austria struggle to counter that press. Ryan Manning has a shot charged down by Stefan Posch after Jack Moylan found him. It’s been a high-energy start. Sasa Kalajdzic go down after a coming together with John Egan, but the referee waves play on. The battle between those two go be intriguing one given the striker height advantage.
Jack Moylan delivery find Dara O’Shea, who manage to head back across goal, but no one in green can get on the end of it as Austria clear. James Abankwah is pushed off the ball by Phillipp Mwene and wins a free-kick which Jack Moylan set to throw into the box. The lively Jack Moylan dig out a cross which just too high for Adam Idah. The ball then break for Conor Coventry, whose shot is blocked. Encouraging start attacking wise for the hosts. Dara O’Shea try to release Troy Parrott with a long ball which is cut out. Sasa Kalajdzic then spot Caoimhin Kelleher off his line and try to lob him from range, but it drop just over the crossbar. An early warning for Republic of Ireland.
Adam Idah play in Parrott, who look like he need to just hold the ball up as he lack the support to go forward. Instead, the Real Betis striker go alone, embarking on a mazy run, breezing past a number of defenders before coolly slotting between the goalkeeper legs. A sumptuous goal. Troy Parrott take a bow, what a goal! That Troy Parrott goal be like something you go see for school playground. The ease at which he nutmeg Philipp Lienhart and then chop past Nicolas Seiwald and stick it through Florian Wiegele legs was so classy and evidence of a striker playing with supreme confidence. Matt Gault of BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium talk say that be absolutely sublime from Troy Parrott. The atmosphere in here be absolutely electric now. Jack Moylan don look sharp early on again and Adam Idah don dey do a lot of hard pressing, but that na touch of class from Parrott.
Republic of Ireland dey play with real confidence and dem hungry for a second. Finn Azaz try to thread a pass through to Troy Parrott in the box, but he put just too much on it and it go out of play. As Matt talk, the Aviva dey buzzing now after that stunning solo goal from Troy Parrott. His third goal in Budapest may be his favourite and most memorable goal for his country, but that one probably the best. This na Republic of Ireland first competitive game at home since the World Cup qualifier win over Portugal 11 months ago. Parrott get both goals that night too.
There is a pause in play as tennis balls with Palestine flags are thrown on to the pitch from protesters. Both teams dey on the side of the pitch getting drinks and tactical instructions as the balls are cleared. We back under way at the Aviva after that pause with Austria looking to respond. Sasa Kalajdzic find himself with time and space to deliver a ball into the box which Dara O’Shea manages to clear. Austria don dominate possession since that Parrott goal.
Phillipp Mwene squeeze in a cross from the left, which is deflected into Caoimhin Kelleher’s arms. Austria finally dey enjoy a sustained spell of possession which culminates in Stefan Posch delivering a cross from the right that is headed away by Dara O’Shea. Adam Idah do well to dispossess a defender in the corner and drive into the box. His cut back is only half cleared, with a loose ball chased by Ryan Manning, but Stefan Posch manages to deal with it. Manning end up on the deck, but the referee is unmoved.
Ireland get two wins, one draw, and two losses across their last five matches. Their most recent result na that 3-0 victory over Israel in the Nations League, following a 1-0 defeat to Kosovo in their opening group fixture. Before the current cycle, dem draw 1-1 with Canada and beat Qatar 1-0 in friendlies. Across the five matches, Ireland score ten goals and concede two, with their defensive record particularly strong outside of competitive fixtures. Austria get three wins and two losses of their last five. Dem beat Kosovo 3-1 on matchday two of the Nations League, having already beaten Israel 3-1 on matchday one. Their three World Cup matches before that produce one draw and two defeats, including a 3-3 draw with Algeria and a 2-0 loss to Argentina. Austria score eleven goals and concede seven across the five-match run, pointing to a side that creates chances freely but can be exposed at the back.
The two sides don meet four times in the available head-to-head record, all in World Cup qualification. The most recent fixture, played at the Aviva Stadium in June 2017, end 1-1. Austria don win two of the four meetings, with Ireland winning one and one match ending in a draw. The series is tightly contested, and no meeting in the dataset produce a margin greater than one goal. In UEFA Nations League B Group 3, Austria lead the table and Ireland sit third. That gap mean Thursday home fixture is a chance for Ireland to close ground on the group leaders, while Austria can put significant daylight between themselves and the chasing pack with a win in Dublin.
