BBC Online :
Northern Ireland’s Nations League hopes suffered a major setback as Marko Arnautovic’s second-half goal condemned them to a 1-0 defeat in Austria on Friday.
Arnautovic ran in behind right-back Paddy McNair and coolly slipped the ball past Bailey Peacock-Farrell for the only goal in Vienna.
McNair and skipper Steven Davis had chances for the visitors, while Will Grigg’s late header hit a post.
NI lost their opening Group B3 game 2-1 to Bosnia-Herzegovina in September.
Northern Ireland are bottom of the table without a point and in danger of relegation to the third-tier Group C with games against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo on Monday and Austria in Belfast in November to come.
Austria are three points behind leaders Bosnia-Herzegovina, who beat Austria 1-0 last month.
Austria secured their fourth win in 10 meetings between the sides 13 years to the day since the countries last met, the hosts running out 2-0 winners in Vienna on that occasion.
Northern Ireland’s Nations League hopes suffered a major setback as Marko Arnautovic’s second-half goal condemned them to a 1-0 defeat in Austria on Friday.
Arnautovic ran in behind right-back Paddy McNair and coolly slipped the ball past Bailey Peacock-Farrell for the only goal in Vienna.
McNair and skipper Steven Davis had chances for the visitors, while Will Grigg’s late header hit a post.
NI lost their opening Group B3 game 2-1 to Bosnia-Herzegovina in September.
Northern Ireland are bottom of the table without a point and in danger of relegation to the third-tier Group C with games against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo on Monday and Austria in Belfast in November to come.
Austria are three points behind leaders Bosnia-Herzegovina, who beat Austria 1-0 last month.
Austria secured their fourth win in 10 meetings between the sides 13 years to the day since the countries last met, the hosts running out 2-0 winners in Vienna on that occasion.
