Austria secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over World Cup newcomers Jordan at Levi’s Stadium near San Francisco. The match was decided late, with veteran forward Marko Arnautovic converting a penalty during added time to seal the win.
The scoring opened when Austrian midfielder Romano Schmid fired a powerful long-range shot that found the back of the net, putting Austria ahead early in the contest. Despite being behind, Jordan remained resilient and continuously pressed for an equalizer.
Jordan’s persistence paid off when Ali Olwan scored his nation’s first-ever goal at a World Cup. His deft right-footed strike beat Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager after cleverly cutting inside, the ball ricocheting off the post and into the net. This historic moment was a significant milestone for the debutant side.
A Late Turnaround Secures the Win for Austria
The match took another twist in the 76th minute when Jordan’s Yazan al-Arab inadvertently scored an own goal, restoring Austria’s advantage. As the clock wound down, Arnautovic, the 37-year-old former West Ham United player, calmly converted a penalty during stoppage time, ensuring Austria’s triumph and preventing any late drama.