Austria's Marcel Sabitzer celebrates his goal to make it 3-2 against the Netherlands, Euro 2024. Photo: AFP
Austria's aggressive and hard running approach propelled them into the last-16 of the European Championship 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 on 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 also wait to find out the identity of their last-16 opponents.
A Kylian Mbappe penalty was cancelled out by Robert Lewandowski's spot kick as already-eliminated Poland held France to a 1-1 draw in Dortmund.
Mbappe broke the deadlock in the 56th minute with his first European Championship goal and the first scored by a French player at Euro 2024 when he calmly slotted home a penalty given for Jakub Kiwior's clumsy challenge on Ousmane Dembele.
But Dayot Upamecano brought down Polish substitute Karol Swiderksi, which allowed Lewandowski to level from the spot in the 79th minute after his first effort was saved by Mike Maignan, who was adjudged to have advanced off his line too early.
- Reuters