CHANCE! Alaba crosses, Baumgartlinger volleys, and Janko ... heads wide. Stooping low, he cannot direct on target from close range.
90' +3
Walters runs the ball upfield, but it's quickly coming back at Ireland...
90' +2
Duffy, like Clark, is enjoying these lofted balls. He nods two away in quick succession.
90' +1
There are four minutes to be added on...
Randolph comes for a cross, but gets nowhere near it. He and Ireland must hold their nerve now.
90'
SAVE! Florian Klein takes a couple of attempts to get the ball in, and it breaks for Dragovic. He hits hard and low, but it's easy pickings for Randolph.
89'
Clark flies into another aerial duel and wins again. The cross eventually arrives and Brady nods behind. Ireland are hanging on a bit now...
87'
CHANCE! What a miss! Janko has been starved of service and space by the Irish, but he finally peels away from Coleman at the back post. He gets his head to the ball, but the timing is awful and his effort bounces harmlessly wide.
85'
A. McGeady enters the game and replaces J. McClean.
McClean can run no more. Aiden McGeady steps in.
84'
Now McClean is down. If anyone has earned a rest, it's him - although Austria may not agree...
Minute
Description
83'
This has been an inspired defensive display from Ireland. Arnautovic wins a corner on the left, but the subsequent delivery is meat and drink for the visiting centre backs.
82'
SAVE! McClean is working ever so hard out there. He dribbles out of trouble and plays a pass out. The ball quickly comes back, but Randolph is equal to Harnik's optimistic lob.
80'
Some farcical Austrian defending allows McClean in on the left. He looks to have found space to cross, but is closed out at the last.
78'
D. McGoldrick enters the game and replaces W. Hoolahan.
S. Ilsanker enters the game and replaces K. Wimmer.
Hoolahan has been fairly poor, but contributed the crucial assist. He is replaced by David McGoldrick.
A last throw of the dice for Marcel Koller, as Stefan Ilsanker comes in for Wimmer.
76'
This game has surely fallen perfectly into place for O'Neill. Ireland have the hard running of Walters and McClean as an outlet, and it's working a treat. Austria are struggling to get going again.
75'
Brady, again, follows suit. Taking his time with a free-kick, he risks a second yellow, before delivery the set-piece, which Duffy heads over.
74'
What is going through Baugartlinger's mind? The frustration again gets the better of him as he hacks away at Hoolahan. The Austria captain is surely one foul away from a red card now.
73'
M. Harnik enters the game and replaces M. Sabitzer.
That's Sabitzer's last action, with Martin Harnik coming on.
72'
R. Brady gets yellow.
And now Brady contributes his own flavour of brainlessness. Kicking the ball away from Sabitzer, he is likewise suspended.
71'
J. Baumgartlinger gets yellow.
So foolish from Baumgartlinger, who first fouls Arter and then confronts the prone Bournemouth man. An obvious booking rules him out of the next game.
70'
Hendrick is enjoying some freedom now that Ireland lead, and he wins another corner. Brady's delivery is high, but Ozcan is fouled and Austria escape.
69'
Now Austria aren't happy as Meyler stays down, having been caught in an Arnautovic-Alaba sandwich. He eventually gets to his feet as the referee comes across.
66'
Baumgartlinger has delivered a real mixed bag here so far. An incredible piece of close control sees him dance clear of a challenge in the midfield, but a dreadful pass rolls short of Wimmer.
65'
CLOSE! Austria are now trying their luck on the right. Duffy is caught out of position, and then recovers to block, but the ball is worked back to Alaba. The Bayern Munich man drives a shot towards goal, but it flies just inches over the top corner with Randolph beaten.
63'
Austria are slowly building up momentum again, but some fine play from Coleman on the right relieves his side. It's all rather comfortable for Ireland, despite those shots from distance in recent minutes.
61'
Alaba gets the free-kick up and over the wall, but it falls some way wide of Randolph's left-hand post.
60'
Having been on the back foot for a spell, Austria have slowed the pace of the game somewhat. They also now have a free-kick as Brady flies in on Schaub...
58'
SAVE! Schaub, on the pitch a matter of seconds, hammers a strike from range. It's on target and moving at some speed, with Randolph brilliantly parrying.
57'
L. Schaub enters the game and replaces A. Schöpf.
Louis Schaub replaces the largely anonymous Schopf.
McClean is enjoying himself. Running at the Austria defence, he lands another corner.
OFF THE LINE! Brady's delivery has been brilliant here. His latest set-piece deflects goalwards, and Sabitzer is required to hack clear.
54'
CHANCE! Clark holds his head, he clearly thinks he should have scored! Instead, his header from Brady's corner is deflected behind.
ANOTHER CHANCE! Ireland are rampant. Hoolahan finds McClean, who dances past a couple of challenges before lashing wide.
53'
A. Dragović gets yellow.
Aleksandar Dragovic is booked as he tustles with Clark as they wait for the corner to come in.
52'
Hendrick, suddenly a key figure, gets to the by-line and wins a corner from the right. Ireland are in total control...
51'
GOAL DISALLOWED! Ireland thought they had a second! Brady delivered the set-piece from the right, and Walters beats Ozcan to the ball and nods into the net. He had, however, strayed offside. Good call.
50'
Hendrick was very quiet in the first half, but a lovely piece of skill earns a free-kick on the right. The Irish fans have found their voices now, and they are bouncing.
48'
J. McClean has scored a goal for Republic of Ireland! Assist by W. Hoolahan.
GOAL! Ireland lead! A breathless counter has McClean in on goal just seconds after Wimmer gives up possession, and the Irish winger hammers hard and low through Ramazan Ozcan's legs.
Hoolahan was the man who played in McClean, having been found himself by Meyler.
47'
Austria make good progress down the left, but Wimmer goes down easily under pressure from Meyler, and he loses possession.
46'
KICK-OFF: Away we go again, with the scores tied at 0-0.
Hoolahan was poor in the first half, but within seconds of the kick-off, his gorgeous backheel tees up Walters in the area. The Stoke forward is quickly crowded out, though.
45' +2
HALF-TIME: Austria 0-0 Republic of Ireland.
45' +1
Just the one additional minute in Vienna.
44'
S. Duffy gets yellow.
WOODWORK! What a miss from Walters! Ireland respond in fine fashion as Coleman twice works a crossing opportunity. It eventually falls for Brady to whip a delivery in, and Walters is in the clear to poke at goal. His effort is too high and clips the crossbar. So close again.
Duffy has rarely been far from the referee's mind in this one, and he finally collects a caution with his latest foul.
41'
Austria attempt to keep up the pressure, but Duffy, so often penalised, wins the foul this time. A moment to breathe easily for the Irish.
39'
WOODWORK! Unbelievable! Arnautovic pokes in Sabitzer, who delicately lifts the ball over Randolph. The ball bounces away off the crossbar, though, and both Janko and Kevin Wimmer fail to ram it over the line.
37'
SAVE! This is rather comfortable for Randolph, but it shouldn't have been. Schopf collects the ball and has space to drive at the Ireland defence. Instead, he shoots from range and the West Ham goalkeeper gathers.
36'
Alaba, a player of genuine quality, again delivers a woeful set-piece. Hitting the first man, Ireland escape once more.
35'
That's woken the Austrian crowd up again at least, as has a clumsy challenge from Meyler on Alaba, gifting the hosts a free-kick.
34'
Ireland are perhaps guilty of overplaying the ball as Brady, Arter and Hoolahan all refuse to clear long. The latter is slightly fortunate as the ball appaeared to run out of play before he could get it away.
33'
GREAT BLOCK! Janko spins on the floor to poke Arnautovic through on goal. He looks to smash at Randolph's goal on his left, but Coleman dives in to get a foot in the way. Clark collects the loose ball and then a free-kick from the frustrated Arnautovic.
31'
CHANCE! Duffy is a constant threat from set-pieces, but he is beaten to Brady's deep cross by Walters. The Stoke forward can only flick his header wide, though.
30'
Alaba, likewise, offers a glimpse of both sides of his game. A lovely piece of skill keeps possession; a hopelessly inaccurate switch gives it away.
29'
Baumgartlinger looks slightly less impressive in possession. An attempted pass flies out for a throw-in, and the home supporters are not happy.
28'
Julian Baumgartlinger has been busy for the home side. Covering the hard yards, he is involved as Austria probe the visiting back-line. As ever, though, another foul is called. This has been a scrappy opening 28 minutes.
27'
McClean is so unfortunate for Ireland. Chasing down the most lost of lost causes, he keeps the ball in play by the corner flag, but a challenge sees the ball clip his toe and go out. The West Brom man nearly moved his team up the field with his hard running there.
25'
Austria are getting some possession at the moment, but Ireland, working so hard, are giving their hosts no room to play in. Great endeavour.
An opening of sorts for Janko! Alaba knocks the ball long and Duffy can only head down into the Austria forward's path. He chests to control, but batters a volley high into the stands.
24'
D. Meyler enters the game and replaces G. Whelan.
It's David Meyler who takes Whelan's place.
23'
Whelan is going to have to go off here. The physio signals to O'Neill as the Stoke midfielder trudges past his team-mates.
22'
CHANCE! Arter's set-piece lands dead centre in the six-yard box, but the onrushing Ireland attackers are unable to turn the ball goalwards. A let-off for Austria.
And some concern for Ireland. Whelan is lying on the edge of the centre circle with a pained expression. O'Neill, already without so many key men, does not need this.
21'
Walters makes progress towards the corner flag on the left, and some fine hold-up play wins a corner for the Irish...
19'
There a few howls of derision in Vienna as both sides feel they are owed a free-kick for strong challenges. Coleman eventually gets his wish as Arnautovic goes in late.
18'
Arnautovic is starting to pull the strings here, along with Alaba. Some neat work down the Austrian left comes to nothing, but they are back on top.
17'
SAVE! Nice football from Austria. Arnautovic and Sabitzer link up on the left, with the latter crossing towards Janko. His header loops up, but is comfortably gathered by Randolph.
16'
Duffy clatters Janko this time, offering Austria some respite. Alaba goes short, then sprinting on to a deep pass towards the by-line, but his careless flick concedes possession.
15'
Shane Duffy is the latest man in green to give away a free-kick, but Ireland are on top now and enjoying some territorial dominance.
14'
Ireland's attack quickly peters out, however. The corner is cleared to Clark, who finds Hoolahan, and his delivery is woeful.
13'
CHANCE! A ball forward into McClean's feet allows him to turn on the edge of the area. The West Brom winger thumps at goal, and a deflection carries his shot just inches past the far post.
11'
Ireland are becoming frustrated. More sloppiness in possession from Hoolahan, another late Hendrick challenge, and Austria have a free-kick once more.
10'
Now at last some Irish progress. A series of Seamus Coleman throw-ins on the right build towards the Austrian goal, but Jeff Hendrick's foul undoes his side's hard work.
8'
And another Austrian corner! Clark nods behind from Alessandro Schopf's cross...
SAVE! Alaba delivers low again, but this time onto the toe of Marc Janko. Although the Austria forward spins and shoots, Darren Randolph easily collects a feeble attempt.
7'
It looked as though Ireland might suddenly burst into life for a second there, but Walters was adjudged to have fouled his man before Hoolahan headed for goal.
6'
Jeers from the home supporters as James McClean miscontrols and concedes a throw-in in Ireland's first foray forward. The visitors need to settle into this one.
5'
A first shot on goal from Sabitzer! Wes Hoolahan meekly surrenders possession, but Ciaran Clark does well to halt Arnautovic's run. The effort from the loose ball is dragged well wide.
3'
Ireland are yet to really get a foot on the ball. It's a constant barrage of pressure early on here from the hosts.
2'
It's a poor delivery from David Alaba, but he works the ball back to Marcel Sabitzer, whose cross earns another flag kick. Again, though, Ireland clear.
1'
KICK-OFF: Away we go in Vienna! It's Austria who get us started.
An early corner for the hosts as Robbie Brady lashes behind from Arnautovic's dangerous centre...
Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of the 2018 World Cup qualifier between Austria and Republic of Ireland from Vienna!
So, the hosts' Marko Arnautovic comes up against Stoke City team-mates Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters, while there's a competitive Ireland debut for Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter.
Austria are unbeaten in eight against the Irish, but they are languishing in fourth in Group D, with just four points. A win in Georgia was followed by a draw at home to Wales and then defeat at Serbia.
Ireland, meanwhile, are tied at the top of the group with Serbia, who they held to a draw in Belgrade. Martin O'Neill's men then beat both Georgia and Moldova.
The two sides' form at Euro 2016 was equally contrasting, as Austria crashed out at the group stage without a win, while Ireland surprisingly marched on to the knock-out rounds before losing to hosts France.
The Austrian fans are in great voice ahead of the players' arrival on the pitch, with flags flying high in the stands. This is a big one for the hosts.
And those players are now ready in the tunnel. We are just a couple of minutes away from the anthems - and then the action!
What a scene it is in the Ernst Happel Stadium! The players, having emerged to some fanfare, are now belting out their respective national anthems. We're almost ready for the off.
It's not been the best of halves, with fouls aplenty, but both sides came close to breaking the deadlock in the closing stages. Sabitzer, for Austria, and Walters, for Ireland, both clipped the crossbar.
Given the need for Austria to get a win here today, O'Neill and Ireland must boast the happier camp at the halfway stage. They have kept their hosts from dominating, giving as good as they're getting for the most part.
And here come Austria! We'll shortly be back under way.
It might have been a fairly dreary first half, but those Austria fans are still in fine spirits. Waving their flags along to the music played over the PA system, they will soon greet the players back onto the field.
What a result for the Irish! McClean's second half strike earns them a rare win against Austria, and they move top of the group on 10 points.
For Austria, this was yet another bad day at the office. They created little in response, and Janko contrived to miss the chances that did come their way. The pressure on Koller will crank up another notch now.
That's all from Vienna, where Ireland have beaten Austria 1-0. Thanks for joining us. Goodbye!
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