Austria 3 – 1 Jordan

Austria won their first World Cup game in 36 years with a 3-1 Group J victory over tournament debutants Jordan in San Francisco.

Ralf Rangnick’s side needed a late own goal and a Marko Arnautovic stoppage-time penalty to see off a Jordan side who were nerveless on their tournament bow.

The Asian team nearly took a 90-second lead as captain Ehsan Haddad hit a volley into the side netting, but their positive start was punctured when Romano Schmid bent in a wonderful 21st-minute opener – Austria’s only first-half shot on target.

But Jordan were not deterred by Schmid’s stunner as Ali Olwan hit the bar just 113 seconds later with a glancing header.

The debutants deservedly levelled early in the second half as Olwan produced a fine curling equaliser in off the post in the 50th minute.

A triple change then shook up Austria, who thought they had restored the lead in the 67th minute through half-time substitute Arnautovic only for his close-range goal at a corner to be disallowed for a handball by Stefan Posch following a VAR review.

Austria did eventually go back in front through a 76th-minute Yazan Al Arab own goal as the ball flicked off his back into the net at a corner.

Jordan then failed to trouble Austria, who made the win safe through Arnautovic’s penalty in the 12th minute of stoppage time after a VAR review spotted Saleem Obaid had handled the ball when blocking the former Stoke and West Ham forward’s shot.

It was a pleasant return to the World Cup for Austria after a 28-year absence from the competition, but they will need to up it if they are to upset holders Argentina in their next Group J game on Monday (6pm UK time), especially after Lionel Messi’s hat-trick heroics against Algeria, whom Jordan face next on Tuesday (4am UK time).

The key moments from San Francisco…

• 2: JORDAN GO CLOSE! Haddad raids forward from a counter-attack to smash a low volley from the angle into the side-netting after just 90 seconds.

• 21: GOAL! Schmid scores a stunning opener for Austria as he bends one home from outside the box to score with their first shot on target.

• 22: JORDAN HIT THE BAR! Nearly an instant reponse as Olwan heads against the woodwork with a glancing header from a corner.

• 50: GOAL! Jordan deservedly equalise early in the second half through a fine Olwan goal as he curls one in off the post for the country’s first-ever World Cup goal.

• 70: AUSTRIA GOAL DISALLOWED! Arnautovic’s close-range goal from a corner is ruled out following a VAR review after Posch handled before the ball fell to him.

• 76: AUSTRIA RETAKE THE LEAD! VAR doesn’t save Jordan this time as Al Arab scores an own goal at the near post from a corner as the ball glances off his back while he battled with Arnautovic.

• 90+12: AUSTRIA SCORE FROM THE SPOT! Arnautovic gets on the scoresheet this time as he buries a penalty home after a VAR review for a handball against Obaid, who had deflected Arnautovic’s shot wide with his arm.

Analysis: Austria underwhelm against newcomers

Austria came into this World Cup having sailed through qualification, losing just one of their eight games and scoring 22 goals.

Yet in San Francisco, it was tournament newcomers Jordan who looked like that team rather than the one who had been on a five-game winless run.

It might now be six, but Jordan can be encouraged by their performance against an Austrian side containing players from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

When Olwan scored Jordan’s first-ever World Cup goal – and deservedly so – the Asian side were Californian dreaming of becoming the first debutant to win their opening World Cup match since Senegal’s victory over France in 2002.

Jordan constantly threatened Rangnick’s side – they had the same number of shots (11) and shots on target (4) as Austria – and the ex-Manchester United boss needed his bench to save him.

Half-time substitute Arnautovic made an excellent impact as he forced the own goal which restored Austria’s lead and then struck the decisive stoppage-time penalty. His experience told.

Jordan will now be hoping their newfound World Cup experience can earn them their first-ever tournament points in their next game against Algeria, who were hammered by Argentina.

If Austria play like this against the holders, then Messi will massively fancy his chances of breaking the World Cup goals record in Arlington.

What the result means…

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