Austria has been well worth this – the concern for them is that they’re only one in front, and if Ukraine improves, that might seem like a significant oversight. Either way, that was a really enjoyable half, and the second should be even better.
Zabarnyi allows a high ball to bounce like he’s never previously played association football, and Sabitzer grabs possession, turns inside … and slips! He recovers brilliantly, still sliding while spinning on his arse to tee up Arnautovic, but with defenders between him and goal he has to try and force an angle, shanking wide.
Better from Ukraine, a few sharp passes outside the box allowing Malinovskiy to slide in Yaremchuk, behind the Austria defence. But he can’t sort his feet out and can only prod the ball behind. Arnautovic needs treatment after absorbing a flailing arm to the phizog. He’s had better two minutes.
YE’VE GOTTAE SCORE! Sabitzer clips a really good pass down the right and in behind, Schopf tanking after it. In the middle, Arnautovic is up with him, and the low cross to pick him out – are you watching Daniel James? – is perfect! But despite being an unbelievable, epochal talent, Arnautovic can only open his body like a boss, then jab it wide! That is lamentable behaviour, it really is.
Yup, there’s Laimer inside Alaba, the latter streaking by on the underlap, so the former feints to use him then darts inside Karavaev and cracks a right-footed curler that Bushchan shovels behind. The resultant corner comes to nowt.
Second Half awaits.
