Summary

  • Gregoritsch heads Austria winner just before half-time

  • 600 fans allowed in to stadium to watch

  • Northern Ireland have one point from first three games

Live Reporting

Gary Rose

  1. Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    Good work by Conor Washington as he holds the ball up before bringing Paddy McNair into play. McNair waits for willing runners to get into the box but his ball in is headed away.

  2. 'Lafferty will be bitterly disappointed'

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    I feel sorry for Lafferty. He's had no service whatsoever up there and for someone who is trying to play his way back into this side, he's just not getting the opportunity to do so. He must be bitterly disappointed.

  3. SUBSTITUTION

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    On comes Conor Washington as he replaces Kyle Lafferty in a straight swap in attack.

  4. Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    A better start to this half by Northern Ireland but for all their decent play they have still not managed a shot on target.

    Conor Washington is tying up his boots and getting ready to come on.

  5. Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    Ahh, the return of ironic cheers when a shot fails to find the target. Stefan Ilsanker is the target of them as he has a pop from distance but his strike is over the bar.

  6. Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    David Alaba attempts something special with a free kick from over 30 yards. He does clear the wall but Michael McGovern has it covered all the way.

  7. Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    Nice ball across the edge of the box by David Alaba but Reinhold Ranftl's touch is poor and the ball skews behind for a Northern Ireland goal kick.

    The hosts are playing higher up the pitch and that is giving them more attacking opportunities but that moment for Austria shows they need to be careful not to be caught out at the back.

  8. Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    Now it is Austria who are struggling to retain possession.

    Jamal Lewis plays a good ball through the middle and Kyle Lafferty chases it but he can't get the better of the covering Austria defender.

  9. Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    Northern Ireland are much more positive and there's a bit of zip about their play at the moment.

    Stuart Dallas swings the ball into the box looking for Kyle Lafferty but David Alaba is there to head away.

  10. Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    Bright start by the hosts as Jamal Lewis wins an early corner. Lewis goes across to take the set piece and although Jonny Evans meets the delivery he doesn't get any direction on his header.

    Still, words have clearly been said at half time and it has had the desired impact.

  11. KICK-OFF

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    A big improvement needed in this half if Northern Ireland are to get anything from this game.

    The hosts get things back under way.

  12. 'NI need more from wide men'

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    Aaron Hughes
    Former Northern Ireland defender on Radio Ulster

    There will definitely be a few words in there because I think Ian Baraclough would have been expecting more from the players, especially those that have come into the game fresh. He'll definitely be looking for more from the two players in the wide areas and up front as well because Lafferty hasn't had the chance to get in the game.

  13. Austria finally get what they deserve

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

    If ever an international team deserved a goal it was that one that arrived for Austria from Michael Gregoritsch just before half-time.

    It was a head-scratcher as to how the match was still level at that stage with the visitors missing three gilt-edged chances.

    Northern Ireland have barely threatened at all and, apart from a couple of decent moves down the right, Northern Ireland have given the enthusiastic 600 supporters in Windsor Park very little to sing about.

    That hasn't stopped them singing, though.

    Changes by Ian Baraclough must be expected. And the performance level will have to rocket if NI are to claw their way back into this one.

  14. Hat-trick for Haaland

    .Getty Images

    The other game in this group finished earlier, with Norway thumping Romania 4-0.

    Erling Braut Haaland scored his first international hat-trick in the win, taking his international tally to an impressive six goals in six games.

    An absolute goalscoring machine.

  15. 'NI have no shape out there'

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    John O'Neill
    Former Northern Ireland defender on BBC Radio Ulster

    Northern Ireland just couldn't get close enough and it had been coming. It was a perfect cross and a good header. It's disappointing as NI started off quite well but they don't seem to have any shape or form out there. They haven't been in the game at all in the last 20 minutes.

  16. HALF-TIME

    Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    It is a deserved lead at the break for the hosts, who have been relentless since getting into their groove but a shame for Northern Ireland that they couldn't stay on level terms until the break.

    The 600 fans in attendance continue to make themselves heard despite that setback and hopefully they can spur on the home players.

  17. goal

    GOAL - Northern Ireland 0-1 Austria

    Michael Gregoritsch

    It has been coming.

    Good work by David Alaba down the left as he keeps the ball in play before cutting back to Martin Hinteregger, who swings a fine cross to the middle of the box and Michael Gregoritsch heads in.

  18. Northern Ireland 0-0 Austria

    A nice disguised pass by Julian Baumgartlinger releases Reinhold Ranftl but his cross deflects behind off Jamal Lewis. The first corner is played short before being deflected behind again by Lewis, the second is met by Ranftl but his shot hits a defender and goes behind before the third set play is cleared.

  19. Northern Ireland 0-0 Austria

    It will be a big positive for Northern Ireland if they can get to the break level.

    Austria have had a couple of golden chances to take the lead and despite the hosts' best attempts, the ball just keeps coming back towards Michael McGovern in the Northern Ireland goal.

  20. Under the cosh as the fans sing on

    Northern Ireland 0-0 Austria

    Mark Sterling
    BBC Sport NI at Windsor Park

    It was the 19th minute before Northern Ireland put together a forward move of note. It ended with a Gavin Whyte cross that was cleared, but the build-up down the right between the Cardiff winger, Stuart Dallas and Conor McLaughlin was decent.

    The visitors have dominated possession in the opening half hour and should have been in front, with Martin Hinteregger missing that easy header in front of goal and Christoph Baumgartner somehow missed a sitter a few moments later.

    You have to keep Thursday night's excursions in mind when analysing NI's performance, of course, and they definitely look leggy.

    The 600 home fans, on the other hand? Well, they're still singing away. You'd expect nothing else, I suppose.