Austria 1-1 Poland

Austria veteran Ivica Vastic levelled three minutes into injury time to earn a point against Poland after English referee Howard Webb awarded a controversial penalty.

Roger Guerreiro's first goal for his country looked to have given Poland a win against the Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria in Vienna.

Guerreiro, the Brazil-born playmaker, took advantage of an offside flag not appearing, another decision from the English officials that will cause debate.

Josef Hickersberger's side will not be happy with the team led by Webb, despite being given a way back into the game.

Notwithstanding another little-known UEFA interpretation of the laws, Guerreiro looked offside when he tapped in his first for his adopted country.

Before the opener, the focus had been on how Austria did not open the scoring.

They picked up where they left off against Croatia, attacking in numbers and applying pressure.

Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc made three early saves that kept Poland level.

Two were from Martin Harnik, who firstly latched onto a Marcin Wasilewski backpass and raced through, only for Boruc to deny him with an instinctive save using his feet, diverting the ball just past the upright.

Umit Korkmaz then weaved his way down the left before crossing for Harnik, with Boruc initially diving the wrong way but then using his feet to save, before showing great presence of mind to kick away when Michal Zewlakow passed back to him.

Poland's defence was fragile and exposed again with a ball over the top - and Boruc this time had to deny Christoph Leitgeb.

The Austrians were playing with confidence, spurred on by a home crowd, belying their world ranking of 92nd and looking the more likely to score.

Inevitably, Poland grabbed the opener totally against the run of play, on the half-hour mark.

Euzebiusz Smolarek swung the ball over from left to right, Marek Saganowski checked back and his deflected shot fell into the path of Guerreiro, who tapped in as the flag stayed down.

Jacek Krzynowek then had a couple of efforts from long range as Poland gathered momentum.

It continued after the interval as well, with Smolarek having a 25-yard shot saved.

Austria's efforts were more speculative as Webb turned down a woeful penalty appeal when Andreas Ivanschitz dived in the area without a touch from Pawel Golanski, who had come on at the break for Mariusz Jop.

Leitgeb then tried to catch out Boruc with a 45-yard free-kick but the effort sailed over.

Webb took 56 minutes before reaching for his pocket. Korkmaz was the player who received the yellow card for his trip on Saganowski as the winger checked back from the right byline.

Krzynowek also picked up a booking for having a shot after the whistle had blown, then Wasilewski was carded for pushing away Korkmaz.

Jurgen Macho was having a quiet time in goal for Austria but the former Chelsea stopper was called into action in the 63rd minute when he denied Jacek Bak at close range after Guerreiro had found him unmarked with a cross to the far post.

Krzynowek then had a powerful free-kick tipped over the bar by Macho when he tried his luck from 35 yards.

To compound Austria's problems, Sebastian Prodl was booked and will miss their final game of the group stages.

Austria brought on veteran Vastic for inspiration and he got his chance from 12 yards when Mariusz Lewandowski held Prodl as Poland defended a free-kick.

Who joins Croatia from Group B will now go down to the wire.

from: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/euro2008/