Republic of Ireland knew that victory over Austria in their World Cup qualifier at the Aviva Stadium would lift them above their opponents into second place in Group C.
An early Ciaran Clark mistake allowed Martin Hamlik to net an opener for the visitors, but a brace of Jonathan Walters goals, one from the penalty spot, put Ireland ahead at the break.
Austria's improved second-half performance was rewarded when David Alaba capitalised on Giovanni Trapattoni's over-cautious tactics to strike a stoppage-time equaliser.
The result leaves Austria, Sweden and Ireland tied on eight points in the race to finish runners-up to Germany and secure a playoff spot for the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
Below, you can read how the action unfolded in Dublin.
Evening all! Trapattoni named his Ireland XI yesterday, but the teams have now officially been submitted. So let's have a look at them, shall we?
IRELAND: Forde; Coleman, O'Shea, Clark, Wilson; McClean, Whelan, McCarthy, Walters; Long, Sammon
SUBS: Westwood, St Ledger, O'Dea, Kelly, Hoolahan, Green, Keogh, Hendrick, Brady, Doyle, Cox, Randolph
AUSTRIA: Linder; Garics, Pogatetz, Dragovic, Fuchs; Arnautovic, Alaba, Junozovic, Kavlak; Harnik, Hosiner
SUBS: Ozcan, Konigshofer, Ivanschitz, Weimann, Suttner, Baumgartlinger, Prodl, Jantscher, Klein, Leitgeb, Janko, Ortlechner
So, Trapattoni makes two alterations to the starting lineup that drew in Sweden on Friday. One of those is enforced, with record-breaking striker and talismanic captain Robbie Keane out injured.
The Italian has opted to replace the LA Galaxy forward with Conor Sammon, who made his international debut in a friendly against Poland in January of this year.
Despite his impressive performance in Stockholm, Leeds United midfielder Paul Green is dropped in favour of Stoke workhorse Glenn Whelan, a regular during Trapattoni's tenure.
Wolves frontman Kevin Doyle, who has accumulated 53 Ireland caps since debuting in 2006, was originally left out of the squad before being called up following Keane's withdrawal.
He is named on a 12-man Ireland bench that also includes Wes Hoolahan and Simon Cox, who had both been tipped to fill the creative void in the absence of Keane.
However, rather than select someone to play off Shane Long, Trapattoni has stayed loyal to the 4-4-2 formation that frustrated Sweden, picking a genuine striker in the shape of Derby County's Sammon.
I say 'genuine striker', but Sammon's goalscoring record suggests otherwise. He only netted once in 34 appearances during his Premier League spell with Wigan Athletic.
His tally of eight goals for his Championship employers this season makes better reading, but one goal in his last 14 games is form that prompts questions over his inclusion.
Kevin Kilbane, a veteran of 110 Ireland caps, is one of those that believes Trapattoni may have been better off looking elsewhere for an alternative to Keane.
The former Sunderland and Everton left-sided player told Sky Sports News that he expected Norwich City playmaker Hoolahan to start against the Austrians.
Let's move onto the visitors then, who have Emanuel Pogatetz as their sole Premier League representative in their starting XI.
The versatile West Ham United defender is named at centre-half, with Christian Fuchs captaining his country from the left side of the back four.
Marco Arnautovic could be Austria's main attacking threat from the left flank, a position usually occupied by experienced winger Andreas Ivanschitz, who is surprisingly dropped to the bench.
Aston Villa's promising young forward Andreas Weimann, who has 11 club goals this season, is also among the visiting substitutes, as is Marc Janko, who scored in a friendly defeat to Wales at the beginning of the year.
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The Austrian league's top scorer, Philipp Hosiner, netted twice in the 6-0 drubbing of the Faroe Islands on Friday, and will be supported in attack by Martin Harnik, who replaces Ivanschitz in the only change from the XI that started the aforementioned win.
David Alaba of Bayern Munich will certainly be a name familiar to most. He performs various roles for the Bundesliga giants, but will attempt to boss the middle of the park for his country tonight.
One extra note on the Ireland team news - Stoke's Marc Wilson is fit to start at left-back amid concerns over a groin injury. Stephen Kelly was on standby, but begins proceedings on the bench.
Under five minutes until kickoff now. With Sweden not in action this evening, this is a fantastic chance for Ireland to snatch a lead on their rivals for second place.
This is a huge game for Ireland in their quest for qualification. With home advantage on their side, they will fancy themselves to pick up a positive result.
PREDICTION: I am anticipating a low-scoring affair here, with Ireland perhaps sneaking it 1-0. Will I be correct? Let's find out - the match is underway in Dublin...
SHOT! Alaba comes within a whisker of giving Austria an early lead when his Bale-esque 35-yard free kick dips over the wall and bounces just wide of the post.
Alaba drifts a cross in from the left which falls kindly to an unmarked Hosiner at the back post, but he miscontrols the ball and the danger passes.
BLOCK! Long spreads the play to McClean, who has space to run into down the left. He dribbles at Gygory Garics before shooting low, only for Aleksander Dragovic to block with his leg.
Of course, there is a full international fixture list tonight and while I don't have eyes across the whole of Europe, I will be keeping you updated with the scores in matches involving the home nations.
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Wales host Croatia, while Scotland travel to Serbia in Group B. Northern Ireland face Israel at Windsor Park and England have a stern test in Montenegro. No goals as yet in any of those games.
Marc Wilson overhits a cross towards Sammon at the back post, who heads off Pogatez and out for a corner, which comes to nothing.
GOAL! Ireland 0-1 Austria (Martin Harnik)
Oh dear Ciaran Clark. The Villa centre-half tries some fancy footwork in his own half and concedes possession to Zlatko Junozovic, who carries the ball into the box and squares for Harnik to poke under David Forde.
It's a carbon copy of Clark's mistake that cost his club side against Manchester City just a few weeks ago. You'd have thought lessons would have been learnt...
Again, Alaba moves over to the left flank and drills a cross low across the six-yard line which Clark clears to safety.
APPEAL! Ireland shout half-heartedly for a penalty as Walters heads down onto the arm of Alaba, but the Bayern man was completely unaware of where the ball was. Certainly not deliberate.
BOOKING: James McCarthy is penalised for a strong tackle on Junozovic and, after complaints from the Austrian players, the midfielder is shown a yellow card.
That caution rules McCarthy out of Ireland's next qualifier against the Faroe Islands. Incidentally, Junozovic is off the field receiving treatment on his gashed knee.
While they have a man advantage, McClean attacks down the Ireland left and creates space for a cross, which Austrian goalkeeper Linder and Pogatetz both go to clear. They collide, nearly presenting Sammon with a chance before the Austrian defender recovers to boot the ball away.
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PENALTY: Shane Long is sent clear by Whelan, but is all on his own as he travels into the visiting area. He fools Pogatetz with a clever turn and the West Ham loanee floors the Ireland striker with a clumsy challenge. Penalty to Ireland!
GOAL! Ireland 1-1 Austria (Jonathan Walters)
Walters puts his mixed form from the spot for club side Stoke to one side to rifle a low shot into the bottom corner as Linder guesses the wrong way.
SUBSTITUTION: Junozovic has not been able to overcome the injury sustained from his clash with McCarthy and has been replaced by Julian Baumgartlinger.
GOALFLASH! It has been a good five minutes for the home nations. Wales lead Croatia courtesy of a Gareth Bale spot kick and England are ahead in Montenegro - Wayne Rooney the scorer.
McClean is proving to be a real outlet for Ireland and they look to him on the left flank most times they attack. He spent much of the opening 15 minutes drifting infield, but the Sunderland winger has enjoyed more success since choosing to use his pace to try and get round the outside.
Right on cue, McClean skips past Garics and whips in a pacey cross, which Dragovic heads clear under pressure from Long.
BOOKING: O'Shea is shown a yellow card when he gets too tight to Hosiner and hauls the Austrian striker down as he spins away from the Ireland captain.
Arnautovic comes in from the left and audaciously tries to bend a 35-yard shot into the top corner, which Forde watches travel into the stands behind his goal.
WOODWORK! Nearly brilliant from Long, who back heels the ball against the post after excellent work from McClean down the left. His cross was behind Sammon but Long was alert to bring it under control and come within inches of sneaking it into the net with a deft effort.
It is now Austria's turn to show of their back-heeling skills as Baumgartlinger flicks a return pass into the path of Harnik, whose run into the box is cut short by a tackle from Wilson.
BOOKING: Kavlak is unfortunate to be cautioned for a tackle on Long, who in-fact stood on the Austrian's foot while performing a smart drag back.
The snow is falling in Dublin as we approach the break. McClean's shot from range is diverted behind for a corner by Dragovic, who has proven assured and dependable thus far.
GOAL! Ireland 2-1 Austria (Jonathan Walters)
Walters has a second, and what a time to score it! Austria allow Whelan's corner to travel unchallenged to the far post and Walters shakes off Fuchs to stoop low and angle a header into the bottom corner.
HALF-TIME: Ireland 2-1 Austria
Did I say this game would be low scoring? Well, what do I know?! A sloppy mistake from Ciaran Clark gifted Martin Harnik an opening goal for the hosts, but a Jonathan Walters double has turned this game in Ireland's favour as the players go in at the break.
A poor piece of defending from West Ham's Emanuel Pogatetz's at the other end gave Walters the chance to equalise from the penalty spot, which he took 20 minutes before nodding Ireland in-front.
It is looking good so far for the home nations. Wales hold a half-time lead over Croatia, while Northern Ireland and Scotland entered the interval goalless with Israel and Serbia respectively. Meanwhile, England still lead through Wayne Rooney's sixth-minute strike.
STATS: Let's take a look at the first-half numbers. The visitors have dominated possession with 62%, most of that coming in the opening 20 minutes. Since then, Ireland have enjoyed a more equal share of the match and recorded three shots on target compared to Austria's one.
We are back underway in Dublin, with both sides unchanged...
CLOSE! Sammon is barged off the ball by Fuchs and earns a free kick on the right edge of the area. McClean tries to fool Linder by shooting from the tight angle and his left-footed curler has the Austrian stopper scrambling as it brushes the side netting.
Wilson's clearance is charged down by Kavlak, but the Stoke defender is spared a Clark-standard mistake as Forde rushes off his line to collect the loose ball.
Coleman's short back pass is chased down by Hosiner and Forde again has to think quickly to boot the ball away from danger. Sloppy start to the second half from Ireland.
SAVE! Alaba surges forward through midfield and switches the play to Garics. His first time layoff is collected by Harnik, who cleverly turns Whelan before firing a low shot which is gathered by Forde.
SHOT! Austria threaten again as Harnik stands a cross up for Garcis to hit at the back stick. The full-back volleys first time, but drags his effort across goal and wide of the far post.
CHANCE! Baumgartlinger attacks a Arnautovic corner but jumps too early and ends up getting underneath the ball as he heads it harmlessly over Forde's crossbar.
Austria are being allowed to build a sustained period of pressure here due to Ireland's inability to keep the ball. The introduction of Hoolahan into midfield may help the hosts do that...
SUBSTITUTION: It is not Ireland, but Austria who use their bench here. Towering striker Marc Janko is on in place of Philipp Hosiner.
Fuchs makes a rare venture forward from left-back and latches onto an Alaba pass before shooting wide, via a deflection off Seamus Coleman.
Long spins away from Fuchs and has time to deliver a cross but fails to pick out either Walters in the six-yard box or an unmarked McClean at the back post.
SAVE! Superb reflex stop from Linder after McClean's cross flies off Austrian defender Dragovic. It would have snuck underneath the crossbar had Linder not acrobatically tipped it over.
CHANCE! Ireland again cause problems from a set piece as Wilson wrestles away from his marker and directs a header just yards wide of the far post.
SUBSTITUTION: Austria are forced to make an attacking move with their final change as manager Marcel Koller sacrifices Kavlac for Andreas Weimann.
Weimann is involved straight away as he tries to get on the end of a Garics cross, which is intercepted at the last minute by a stretching Clark.
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SUBSTITUTION: Trapatonni turns to his reserves for the first time, swapping Ciaran Clark for Shaun St Ledger in central defence.
Weimann is given space to cross by Coleman and fizzes in a ball towards Janko, but Forde is alert and comes of his line to claim.
RESULT! A Filip Djuricic double has given Serbia a 2-0 victory over Scotland in snowy Novi Sad. Two defeats in two games for Gordan Strachan's Scots.
Long opts to shoot from an unlikely angle 25 yards out when a pass to the supporting Sammon or McClean could have been a better option. That was a tired hit from the Baggies man.
BOOKING: A frustrated challenge from behind on Baumgartlinger by Long sees him yellow carded and thus suspended for the Faroe Island's qualifier.
HEADER! Great closing down from Long sees him pinch the ball from Fuchs and lay it back to Walters. His cross finds McClean, but is behind the Black Cats winger, who heads straight into the gloves of Linder.
SUBSTITUTION: Trapattoni signals his intent to sit on Ireland's lead with a defensive-minded change, introducing Paul Green at the expense of Shane Long.
GOALFLASH! It's cruel on Wales. Lyon defender Dejan Lovern has equalised for Croatia, who now have five minutes to find a winner in Swansea.
GOALFLASH! Northern Ireland have fallen behind late on courtesy of a Lior Rafaelov goal for Israel. A bad few moments for the home nations...
Ireland are dropping deeper and deeper, inviting Austrian pressure onto a nervous home backline. However, as yet, Austria haven't shown any clear signs of bagging a late leveller.
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CHANCE! Alaba picks out Harnik at the back post from a well-worked free kick, and his header across goal is bound for Janko before Forde clings onto the knockdown.
We are entering second-half stoppage time, of which there will be three minutes...
GOALFLASH An Eden Ben Basat goal has made sure of the points for Israel against Northern Ireland.
GOAL! Austria 2-2 Ireland (David Alaba)
Heartbreak for Ireland as Alaba collects an infield pass from Harnik and hits a deflected shot past Forde into the top corner. Two precious points are slipping away from the hosts...
FULL-TIME: Austria 2-2 Ireland
GOALFLASH! More bad news for the home nations. Former Arsenal striker Eduardo has snatched Croatia a come-from-behind win over Wales, while Dejan Damjanovic has equalised for Montenegro against England!
Back to the Republic, who had what would have been a crucial victory snatched from them in the dying stages, but one cannot help but think the late equaliser was self-inflicted.
A bright start to the second period by the visitors forced Ireland back and they kept dropping deeper and deeper, inviting Austria attacks on them. Neither the players or Trapattoni responded to what was an obvious problem and David Alaba made them pay with a 92nd-minute equaliser.
Jonathan Walters had earlier cancelled out Martin Harnik's opener with two goals in the space of 20 minutes, the first of which came from the penalty spot. Ireland rallied well after conceding and were good between minutes 20 and 45, but they failed to create anything in the second half and were punished for their lack of ambition. Austria deserved to share the points, but Ireland will feel like they have left Dublin with none.
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So, it is Austria that establish a slight advantage on Sweden and Ireland in the race for second place in Group C. Germany top the pool with 16 points, while Austria lead the chasing trio, who all have half that total, on goal difference.
That is it from me for this evening. You can read a full-time report on the Aviva Stadium contest here. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for this international fixture. Goodbye!
Written by
Joe Fish
Joe Fish
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