Austria inspired in Innsbruck

Austria 3-2 Ivory Coast
UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts Austria ended a disappointing run as they secured their first victory of 2007 against ten-man Ivory Coast.

Penalties decisive
Josef Hickersberger's side had not won in nine games, equalling an unwanted national record, but went ahead through Sanel Kuljic's first-half penalty and although Didier Drogba equalised early in the second period, Ivory Coast lost Steve Gohouri to a red card. Andreas Ivanschitz converted another spot-kick before setting up Joachim Standfest for a goal that made Drogba's late penalty only a consolation for a team who were hoping for a tenth straight match without defeat.

Sell-out crowd
Innsbruck's Stadion Tivoli NEU was staging its first game after extensive renovations and a sell-out 30,000 crowd had something to celebrate when Siaka Tiene fouled Standfest in the box on 28 minutes and Kulic stepped up to convert. Drogba's superb free-kick levelled matters in the 53rd minute, but on the hour mark Ivory Coast defender Gohouri was dismissed for lashing out at Markus Weissenberger.

Win sealed
Four minutes later Austria were back in front when Yuksel Sariyar was brought down in the box and with Kuljic having been substituted, Ivanschitz stepped up and scored. His pass was turned in by Standfest with 16 minutes left, a goal which proved valuable as in injury time Aruna Dindane was fouled and Drogba converted the night's third penalty. Austria will hope to build on this result when they welcome England and Tunisia to Vienna on 16 and 21 November respectively.