Late Jonathan Walters strike rescues Republic of Ireland against Austria

Jonathan Walters scored an excellent late goal to salvage a point for Ireland at home to Austria.

The Stoke forward outmuscled his marker to get on the end of a hopeful long ball before smashing home after what had been a highly frustrating 85 minutes for the home side.

Martin Hinteregger had earlier given Austria the lead with a clinical strike from a well-worked corner.

Ireland thought they had won it late on when Shane Duffy bundled home on the rebound from a corner, but that was disallowed by the referee.

The result keeps Martin O’Neill’s side unbeaten in this qualifying campaign, and top on 12 points ahead of Serbia’s clash with Wales later this evening, while the Austrians are still just about alive with eight points in third place.

Did Ireland have a goal unfairly disallowed? Despite the late leveller Ireland will view this as two points dropped, especially so in light of having what they thought was a winner disallowed in the 87th minute. If it was ruled that Duffy, or Walters who was also in the vicinity, fouled the defender on the line it was a soft decision, but probably correct and there was also a hint of handball. It could have gone either way, but Ireland should point to other missed chances when analysing why they didn’t win.

David Alaba (Austria). He’s clearly the best player either country can boast and he showed that today as he was classy in possession and involved in most of Austria’s best moments.

24’ – CHANCE! Ward advances from left-back and crosses low for McClean, who tees up Walters with a deft touch, but the Stoke man sidefoots wide from 18 yards.

31’ – GOAL! Ireland 0-1 Austria (Hinteregger). Alaba sends in a low corner from the left which is dummied by Prodl and then fired home from just behind the penalty spot by Hinteregger. Straight from the training ground, that one.

73’ – CHANCE! How did that not go in? Hoolahan sends in a delicious cross which Murphy flicks on and Lainer, six yards from his own goal, badly miscues his clearance but the ball spins into the arms of his goalkeeper.

80’ – CHANCE! So close again! Long meets Brady corner and thinks he's scored but Lainer hacks the ball off the line and McClean blazes the follow-up over.

85’ – GOAL! Ireland 1-1 Austria (Walters). Ireland are level! Walters chases what looks like a lost cause and is too strong for Dragovic, muscling him off the ball before smashing the bouncing ball into the far corner.

87’ – DISALLOWED GOAL! Ireland have the ball in the net again, Duffy nodding in from close range after Murphy's header was cleared up in the air off the line, but it's disallowed apparently for a push.

Republic of Ireland: Randolph 6, Christie 6, Long 5, Duffy 6, Ward 5, Whelan 5, Arter 6, Hendrick 5, Brady 6, Walters 6, McClean 6. Subs: Murphy 6, Hoolahan 6, McGeady 5.

Austria: Linder 6, Lainer 6, Dragovic 6, Prodl 7, Hinteregger 7, Junuzovic 6, Alaba 7, Baumgartlinger 6, Lazaro 6, Kainz 6, Burgstaller 6. Subs: Harnick 5, Grillitsch 7, Gregoritsch n/a.

Martin O’Neill is unbeaten in nine home competitive games in charge of Ireland.

Walters has scored five of Ireland’s last seven goals in home qualifiers.