Republic of Ireland 2 - 2 Austria: Alaba foils Irish

DAVID Alaba left Giovanni Trapattoni’s reign as Republic of Ireland boss hanging by a thread as Austria snatched a dramatic draw in Dublin.

Scorers: Republic of Ireland: Walters (25,pen, 45); Austria: Harnik (11) Alaba (90)

The Bayern Munich midfielder broke Irish hearts with an injury-time equaliser which denied them a precious victory.

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Jon Walters looked to have given the Republic the points when he cancelled out Martin Harnik’s opener from the penalty spot and then headed his side in front, but with a minute of stoppage time remaining, Alaba blasted the Austrians into second place in Group C on goal difference.

Ireland were within a minute of securing a precious victory which would have propelled them into second place in Group C when the Bayern Munich man smashed an injury-time equaliser past goalkeeper David Forde to snatch a point which left his side in pole position to claim the runners-up spot instead.

Rep of Ireland: Forde, Coleman, O’Shea, Clark, Wilson, Walters, Whelan, McCarthy, McClean, Sammon, Long. Subs: Westwood, O’Dea, St. Ledger, Hoolahan, Doyle, Kelly, Keogh, Brady, Cox, Green, Hendrick, Randolph.

Austria: Lindner, Garics, Pogatetz, Dragovic, Fuchs, Arnautovic, Junuzovic, Kavlak, Alaba, Hosiner, Harnik. Subs: Ozcan, Ivanschitz, Weimann, Suttner, Baumgartlinger, Prodl, Jantscher, Klein, Leitgeb, Janko, Ortlechner, Konigshofer.

Referee: Marijo Strahonja (Croatia)

Attendance: 50,000

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