Austria 1-1 Nigeria
The UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts failed to build on an early goal in Graz and had to settle for a draw in their penultimate friendly.
Early opener
Josef Hickersberger fielded a starting XI that is unlikely to be the one that lines up against Croatia on 8 June in their opening match of the finals but his charges tried to take command of the game from the first whistle. Consequently, his side opened the scoring on eleven minutes when Ronald Linz's back-heel allowed Roman Kienast to find the target.
Uche leveller
However, Nigeria quickly acclimatised to the way Austria were playing and levelled on 18 minutes when Kalu Uche latched on to a through ball and finished. The Austrian 3-5-2 formation struggled to cope with Nigeria's swift attacks for the remainder of the half, prompting Hickersberger to revert to 4-4-2 at half-time.
Vastic return
Erwin Hoffer came on at the interval and almost registered two minutes after the break, hitting the crossbar, while Nigeria's Ikechukwu Uche always posed a danger for Austria's back four. With 70 minutes played, 38-year old veteran Ivica Vastic returned to action with Austria and went close with a free-kick but the game had lost much of its tempo by then. Austria meet Malta in their last friendly in Graz on Friday.
Austria: Macho, Pogatetz, Stranzl, Prödl, Aufhauser, Säumel, Fuchs (Korkmaz 61), Ivanschitz (Vastic 70), Standfest, Kienast (Hoffer 46), Linz (Leitgeb 81).
Nigeria: Aiyenugba, Taiwo, Yobo, Nwaneri, Mohamed, Kanu (Odejayi 84), Obi Mikel, K. Uche (Haruna 78), I. Uche, Yakubu (Utaka 81), Anichebe (Odemwingie 46).
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