World Cup qualifying Group Six, Austria 1 Wales 0: On the ground where David James produced one of the all-time goalkeeping howlers, Wales's Danny Coyne supplied a replica last night when his side were robbed of a deserved victory in the Ernst Happel Stadium, leaving John Toshack shaking his head in disbelief.
Wales had wasted at least 10 clear chances in the Group Six World Cup qualifier and should have been ahead when Everton target Rene Aufhauser snatched a dramatic late winner. His shot squirmed under Coyne.
Earlier Craig Bellamy and Ryan Giggs could easily have had a hat-trick each, but chances went begging. But just as Wales had conceded goals in the final minutes of their defeat by Austria on Saturday, the same thing happened here with Coyne the culprit. However, if his striking colleagues had taken half of the chances they wasted, his error would not have mattered.
What this match did show, however, is Wales are a far better side when they leave Bellamy and skipper Giggs to use their pace and craft to run at defenders. Austria threatened to punish Wales for their misses and on 87 minutes that is what happened. Aufhauser struck a shot from 18 yards that Coyne allowed under his body and in at the far post.
AUSTRIA: Payer, Katzer, Stranzl, Dospel (Kiesenebner 84), Ehmann, Aufhauser, Kirchler (Mair 77), Kuhbauer, Mayrleb, Ivanschitz, Haas (Vastic 55). Subs Not Used: Schranz, Standfest, Hieblinger, Amerhauser. Booked: Aufhauser, Mayrleb, Vastic. Goals: Aufhauser 87.
WALES: Coyne, Delaney, Gabbidon, James Collins (Page 58), Partridge, Ricketts, Davies, Fletcher, Robinson, Bellamy, Giggs. Subs Not Used: Jones, Edwards, Koumas, Roberts, Hartson, Earnshaw. Booked: Gabbidon, Partridge.
Referee: Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).
