Austria snatch top spot in Group D with 3-2 win over Dutch in thriller

BERLIN :Austria’s aggressive and hard running approach propelled them into the last-16 of the European Championship on Tuesday as a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Netherlands saw them not only progress but also snatch first place in Group D.

The Dutch also advanced as one of the four best third-placed finishers despite giving away an early own goal, putting on a pedestrian first half performance and losing to a sucker punch as Marcel Sabitzer struck for Austria 10 minutes from time.

With France held to a 1-1 draw by Poland in the group's other game in Dortmund, Austria topped the table with six points, one ahead of second-placed France on five and the Dutch with four points.

Austria sped into a shock lead at the Olympiastadion when Donyell Malen turned the ball into his own net six minutes into the contest but Cody Gakpo equalised soon after the break.

Romano Schmid put Austria ahead again just before the hour in a see-saw second half, with Memphis Depay equalising in the 75th.

It was left to Sabitzer to cap a determined showing from Ralf Rangnick’s side and see them emerge as surprise winners of the group, whose final placings were up in the air as positions in the standings changed several times over the 90 minutes.

They will next meet the Group F runners-up, which will be decided on Wednesday, while France and the Netherlands must also wait to find out the identity of their last-16 opponents.

"When you win like that, win the group, score the winning goal, it doesn't get any better than that. You can see that we rotate through the team and nothing is missed, everyone knows their position and what they have to do," said Sabitzer.

Malen’s misfortune came as he made his first start at the tournament in Germany, sliding in to try