England VS Austria – Match Report

8pm GMT Kick Off, Riverside Stadium, International Friendly

A Second Half Strike From Bukayo Saka Was Enough To See England Beat Austria.

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game, as England beat Austria 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium. Austria pushed for a late equaliser through Marcel Sabitzer, but the Three Lions were able to hold on to a win, as they prepare for their Euro campaign.

England came close to taking a lead through Trent Alexander-Arnold early on. Harry Kane played a diagonal ball to the right back who fired it goalward, but it was tipped over.

Then is was Austria who pushed for a goal. Christoph Baumgartner ran through the midfield and tried to catch Jordan Pickford out. His effort went just over the bar.

Bukayo Saka nearly gave England the lead with a spectacular volley. The ball flew in front of the winger, and he hit it first time. He got the power onto it, but not the precision, as it flew over the bar.

Then it was Jesse Lingard who was close to getting the first goal of the game. Kane was able to get onto a loose ball, which Lingard got onto, which forced Daniel Bachmann into a quick save.

Austria’s striker Sasa Kalajdzic had their first chance of the game. The ball was played into him just outside the box. He went for a shot which was straight down the throat of Pickford, which was the last chance of the half.

The first goal of the game came in the 55th minute, and it was Saka’s first international goal. Lingard tried to play the ball into Jack Grealish, which was intercepted, but it fell to Saka, who put it into an empty net and gave England the lead.

Austria pushed for an equaliser and they went so close. Marcel Sabitzer went for a curling effort, which Pickford had to tip onto the bar, which kept England in the lead.

Then they had another chance from a corner. The corner was dangerously whipped in towards the back post which tried to pick out Florian Grillitsch, but the ball had too much for the Hoffenheim player to get to.

Sabitzer was the outlet for Austria, and came close to pulling Austria back into the game again. He had a go from distance, which Pickford did well to get behind, as it moved in the air.

England were able to hold onto a 1-0 victory, as they continue their preparation for the Euros. England will now play Romania in their last game before the Euros, and Austria will face Slovakia.

Austria had their best chance of the game in extra time. Pickford punched the ball clear, but it was fired goalward by Louis Schaub. Ben White was there to clear the ball off the line.

Man Of The Match – Jack Grealish

The midfielder was brilliant in the game, with almost all the chances England had, coming through the Villa man.

He picked up a number of free kicks with his quick footwork, and had a big influence on the only goal of the game.

“Riverside Stadium” by yellow book is licensed under CC BY 2.0