Wales secure valuable away point against Austria

Joe Allen scored his third goal in as many games for club and country before Marko Arnautovic pegged the visitors back twice, the second time following Kevin Wimmer's own goal, but Wales had to hang on for a 2-2 draw under intense Austria pressure in Vienna.

The point means that Wales stay unbeaten and top Group D, level on points with Austria, Serbia and the Republic of Ireland.

The odds were stacked against the Welsh from the get-go, but that hasn’t stopped them before, and Allen’s stunning volley after 22 minutes was the catalyst for more Welsh dreaming against a side unbeaten in home qualifiers since 2012.

However, David Alaba started to pull the strings when his side needed him the most, and chipped a delightful ball over the top for another Stoke man to find the net, as Arnautovic headed home.

With the hosts laying siege to Wayne Hennessey’s goal, the 4000 travelling Welshmen were praying for half time but, against the run of play, Wimmer’s own goal gave the Dragons the lead once more.

Austria came flying out of the traps after the break, but the equaliser could easily have been avoided, with Allen guilty of giving away possession far too easily. Arnautovic finished well, nonetheless.

It was backs to the wall from then on for Wales, and they had to work for their point. Georgia are up next – a match you’d expect Wales to emerge victorious from on their own turf – a result which will complete a solid start to World Cup qualification.

How far can Wales go? It wasn’t a vintage showing, but Wales showed another side to their game in Vienna, as they ground out what could prove to be a valuable point. There were errors at times, but the determination to hold on at the end has to be commended. With Aaron Ramsey back in the side, Wales could find their flow once more, but sometimes performances like this are just as important in the long run.

David Alaba. His shooting let him down on occasion, but the Bayern Munich metronome pulled the strings for Austria, and was at the heart of everything good about the hosts. Some of his passing was sublime.

Austria: Almer 7, Klein 8, Dragovic 7, Hinteregger 6, Wimmer 6, Baumgartlinger 6, Alaba 8, Sabitzer 6, Junuzovic 7, Arnautovic 8, Janko 5... Subs: Ozcan 7, Schaub N/A, Schopf 7.

Wales: Hennessey 8, Taylor 6, Gunter 7, Williams 7, Chester 7, Davies 6, Ledley 5, Allen 7, King 6, Bale 6, Vokes 5... Subs: Huws N/A, Edwards 6, Robson-Kanu 6.

6’ - CHANCE! Kevin Wimmer gets to a corner first, glances a header at goal, but Wayne Hennessey is across to make the save. Slack marking from the men in black.

7’ - SAVE! My word, what a save from Robert Almer! Ben Davies's volley was heading well wide, but Bale got his head to it, glanced the ball towards the top corner, but Almer somehow stuck out a hand and clawed it out. Incredible.

22’ - GOAL! Austria 0-1 Wales. Joe Allen can't stop scoring at the moment! What an opener! Tremendous work from Bale down the left, his cross is dangerous, only half cleared, Allen arrives on the edge of the box, calls for it, and volleys home from 20 yards with his left foot. Stunning strike.

27’ - GOAL! Austria 1-1 Wales. Spoke too soon as Arnautovic heads home equaliser. You cannot give a player of David Alaba's quality that much time on the ball. With time and space, Alaba clips the ball over the top for Arnautovic to glance a header home. Poor defending from Wales.

35’ - SAVE! Hennessey gets down well to deny Zlatko Junuzovic from the edge of the box. Two strong hands from the Welsh stopper.

38’ - SAVE! Hennessey again to the rescue. Florian Klein plays a neat one two, gets to the byline, pulls it back, Davies sticks out a foot, diverts towards his own goal, but Hennessey sticks out a hand to beat the ball away.

45’ - GOAL! Austria 1-2 Wales. Against the run of play, Wales lead. Wimmer own goal on his first full international start! What an end to the half. Bale's long throw found the head of James Chester, he was denied by Almer, but the ball rebounded off the leg of the helpless Wimmer, on the floor, and bounced in.

48’ - GOAL! Austria 2-2 Wales. The action is relentless here as Arnautovic equalises. Allen's mistake is punished. Allen delays far too long facing his own goal, his pass back is slack, Arnautovic is on it in a flash, races clear and strokes the ball home. Slight deflection takes the ball over the despairing dive of Hennessey.

68’ - CLOSE! Chester should really hit the target after rising highest to meet a corner, but loops the ball over the top with his head.

82’ - CLOSE! Arnautovic slices well wide from a good position after a swift Austrian counter. Seemed to get carried away. Should have hit the target.

86’ - SAVE! Schopf finds space on the edge of the box and fires a low effort at goal. Hennessey gets down quickly to palm it away. He's stayed down.

Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey made 25 opposition-half passes against Austria, 12 more than any of his team-mates.

Joe Allen has scored in three consecutive appearances for club or country for the first time in his career.

Since September 2014, Gareth Bale has been directly involved in over half of Wales' goals (15 of 28, 12 goals and 3 assists).