Marcel Sabitzer and Christoph Baumgartner scored in either half to ensure Austria a 2-0 victory over 10-man Germany in Vienna.
The home team broke the deadlock in the first period thanks to Sabitzer’s strike at the near post before Leroy Sane was sent off after shoving the head of Philipp Mwene.
The second half was largely dominated by Austria with the extra man and they made their opponents pay when Baumgartner sealed victory at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion.
Austria enjoyed a bright start to the match and had the first shot on target of the match a quarter of an hour in when Michael Gregoritsch’s effort from inside the area tested Kevin Trapp in the Germany goal.
The home side broke the deadlock just before the half hour mark when Baumgartner picked out Sabitzer, who finished expertly at the near post.
Germany looked to respond instantly and Sane’s drilled strike looked to be going into the bottom corner but Austria keeper Alexander Schlager did well to deny the Bayern Munich winger.
Germany’s Serge Gnabry then let fly from outside the area but his audacious effort flew way over the crossbar.
Austria came close to a second three minutes before the break, Sabitzer looked to repay Baumgartner for his earlier assist and fed him but the latter’s effort missed just wide of the top right corner.
Germany faced an uphill battle to get back into the match when they were reduced to 10 men just four minutes into the second period. After Mwene was fouled by Sane, the German sprung to his feet and pushed the defender in the face and received an inevitable red card.
Austria sought to make their man advantage count and almost had a second but Stefan Posch’s low shot from outside the area went a whisker wide of the post.
The hosts continued to create chances and for a while it seemed only a matter of time before Germany would concede a second after Gregoritsch and Posch both missed half-chances within a minute of each other.
Midway through the second half, Trapp was called upon again to deny Gregoritsch’s goal-bound effort and keep the deficit to just one.
Austria’s second arrived in the 73rd minute. After setting up the first, Baumgartner raced through on goal and dinked the ball cleverly over Trapp to make Austria’s advantage more comfortable.
The closest Germany came to a consolation goal was when Jonathan Tah flicked on for Thomas Muller but the veteran’s header was magnificently saved by Schlager.
Nuno demands Premier League resolves PSR 'mess' as Forest await appeal verdict
Nuno Espirito Santo has called for the Premier League to provide clarity as Nottingham Forest wait on their appeal against a four-point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules, describing the situation as a "mess".
Forest were deducted four points in March after being found to have breached the competition's financial rules in the assessment period culminating in the end of the 2022-23 season.
Everton have also had a total of eight points deducted for two separate breaches, but with the Toffees pulling clear of the relegation zone, it is Forest who are looking over their shoulders.
Nuno's team sit just one point clear of 18th-placed Luton Town as they await the outcome of an appeal against their penalty, and he says the lack of clarity is affecting several clubs.
Asked whether he had received an update on Forest's appeal on Thursday, Nuno said: "Unfortunately we haven't heard yet.
"We are expecting to, but not yet. It is very difficult. We have been dealing with this situation for a while.
"We all expected the decision to come sooner, so we would know exactly how many points we have. Do we have 30, 29, 28, 27? We need it as fast as possible.
"To have 30 points would be fantastic, because this is the number of points that the boys achieved on the pitch.
"It is a mess. It should have been decided before. They have had enough time. It is very difficult for us but also for the rest of the league. It is very hard to be in this situation."
Forest visit already-relegated Sheffield United on Saturday, having taken just one point from four Premier League games since beating Fulham 3-1 in early April.
They could be in the relegation zone by the time that match kicks off, with Luton hosting Everton in a huge clash at Kenilworth Road on Friday.
France defender Hernandez to miss Euro 2024 after suffering ACL injury
Lucas Hernandez will miss France's Euro 2024 campaign after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during Paris Saint-Germain's 1-0 Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund will take a slender lead to the Parc des Princes for next week's semi-final second leg after Niclas Fullkrug's strike powered them past PSG in Wednesday's first leg in Germany.
Hernandez sustained a knee injury while chasing after Fullkrug in the build-up to the goal and was substituted after a brief attempt to play on.
On Thursday, PSG announced an MRI scan had revealed an ACL tear in his left knee, which will require surgery in the coming days.
Hernandez, who has 37 senior international caps, will now miss Euro 2024, with France set to open their Group D campaign against Austria in Dusseldorf on June 17.
Didier Deschamps' side then face the Netherlands in Leipzig four days later, before taking on Poland in Dortmund on June 25.
Hernandez was part of France's squad for the 2022 World Cup but sustained another ligament injury during Les Bleus' opening match against Australia, missing the rest of the tournament and not returning to club football until the start of 2023-24.
'It's a joke' – Ten Hag slams reports of Man Utd fire sale
Erik ten Hag has angrily denied reports claiming almost every player in Manchester United's squad will be up for sale in the upcoming transfer window, describing them as "a joke".
United are officially out of the running for Champions League qualification and could yet end Ten Hag's second season at the helm out of Europe entirely, with Newcastle United and Chelsea among the teams looking to hunt down the sixth-placed Red Devils.
Big changes are expected in United's first transfer window under the stewardship of INEOS founder Jim Ratcliffe, who assumed full control of football operations when his purchase of a minority stake in the club was ratified in February.
Earlier this week, reports emerged suggesting United were entertaining offers for all but three of their players, namely Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
Speaking at a press conference to preview Monday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, Ten Hag shot down those suggestions.
"It's a joke! As long as I worked here, 200 players are apparently getting interest from Manchester United every summer, which is untrue. We did some research," Ten Hag said.
"Every summer, we sell every player in our squad, which is untrue. Be calm and take responsibility when you make up such a headline. It is total c**p."
Despite coming under fierce pressure this campaign, Ten Hag has repeatedly insisted he will remain at Old Trafford for the 2024-25 season.
He knows there is plenty to be done as the Red Devils enter a new era, saying: "There's always a lot of work, that's normal when you go into a transfer window.
"We are still below the levels of the expectations that Manchester United have, so we have to catch up.
"I am now going into my fifth window, two windows were okay, two windows we did nothing. We have to make new improvements in the summer.
"There is a base of this squad that is very good. Injuries had a big impact on our season."
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
