Quick Report: Austria 1-1 Poland

A late penalty goal by Ivica Vastic helped Austria to a 1-1 draw in Euro 2008 Group B with Poland after they had earlier missed a host of chances.

Austrian striker Martin Harnik got in behind a porous Poland defense and had a clear run at goal, but he was distracted by a charging Artur Boruc in the Polish goal, and he dragged the shot wide.

In the 14th minute, Harnik again wasted a chance when a cross found him in point-blank range of the goal, but he fired the shot right at Boruc. Two minutes later, Boruc again came to the rescue when he thwarted a break by Roland Linz on a swift counterattack.

Those mistakes came to haunt Austria on the half-hour when Roger Guerreiro tapped home from close range after Marek Saganowski’s ball was deflected into his path by the fingertips of Austria goalkeeper Jürgen Macho.

Austria looked like they had no answers against an improved Poland side in the second half, but they had a never-say-die attitude and won a penalty in the third minute of stoppage time when Mariusz Lewandowski tugged down Sebastian Prödl in the area, and Vastic made no mistake from the penalty spot.

The result clinched first place in Group B for Croatia, as well.