Soccer Football - International Friendly - Austria vs Uruguay - Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria - November 14, 2017 Austria’s Julian Baumgartlinger in action with Uruguay’s Giorgian de Arrascaeta REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
VIENNA (Reuters) - World Cup qualifiers Uruguay paid for wayward finishing as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Austria in a friendly on Tuesday.
Austria, who missed out on the World Cup, won with a freak goal by Louis Schaub in the 87th minute as their new coach Franco Foda got off to a winning start.
Schaub took a free kick near the touchline around 35 metres from goal and the ball floated over a pack of players and into the net without anyone getting a touch.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Austria vs Uruguay - Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria - November 14, 2017 Uruguay’s Federico Valverde in action REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
Austria had gone in front after five minutes with a Marcel Sabitzer goal but Uruguay took control after Edinson Cavani headed the equaliser in the 10th minute, his 40th goal for his country.
The South Americans squandered a flurry of chances with Giorgian de Arrascaeta thumping the ball against the post and Cavani firing over when he had a free shot on goal.
Forward Luis Suarez was rested by Uruguay to help his recovery from a knee injury.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Austria vs Uruguay - Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria - November 14, 2017 Austria’s Louis Schaub in action with Uruguay’s Matias Vecino REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
Uruguay have played four friendlies in Europe this year, producing three defeats and a draw against Poland.
(Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne; Editing by Toby Davis)
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Austria vs Uruguay - Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria - November 14, 2017 Austria’s Andreas Ulmer in action with Uruguay’s Giorgian de Arrascaeta REUTERS/Leonhard FoegerSoccer Football - International Friendly - Austria vs Uruguay - Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria - November 14, 2017 Uruguay’s Matias Vecino in action with Austria’s Marko Arnautovic REUTERS/Leonhard FoegerSoccer Football - International Friendly - Austria vs Uruguay - Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria - November 14, 2017 Austria’s Louis Schaub celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates REUTERS/Leonhard FoegerSoccer Football - International Friendly - Austria vs Uruguay - Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria - November 14, 2017 Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
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