2026 World Cup: Austria scrape past a spirited Jordan side as Schmid stunner and own goal decide it
Austria were far from sparkling, but they got the job done. On Tuesday night, they beat Jordan 3-1 in their World Cup opener, even if the performance in attack left plenty to be desired. Romano Schmid lit up the evening with a beauty, drilling a shot into the top corner from outside the box in the 20th minute. It was a rare flash of quality in a scrappy Austrian display, with clear chances at a premium and Marko Arnautovic seeing a goal ruled out in the 63rd minute.
Jordan, though, were anything but timid. They created more chances than their opponents in the first half, with Ali Olwan going close twice before the break (23rd, 34th) before finally scoring Jordan’s first ever World Cup goal in the 50th minute with a well-placed strike. It was a landmark moment for a team making its debut on football’s biggest stage. But the equaliser was never enough to turn the tide.
on MathODDS
Own goal and penalty finish the job as Austria breathe easy
Austria were handed a helping hand to put the game beyond reach. A corner aimed at Arnautovic led to a Jordan own goal in the 76th minute, giving the Austrians some much-needed breathing room after a messy second half. Arnautovic then wrapped it up from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time (90e+12), ending a night Austria will mainly remember for the points.
For Jordan, the defeat feels harsh given the performance. Backed by their supporters in their first World Cup, they would not have been robbed of a point. They will now need to reset for the rest of the tournament, with Algeria and Argentina on the horizon. Austria, meanwhile, take three valuable points, even if there is plenty to sharpen up before the next matches.
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