Austria 1-0 Cyprus Player Ratings: Philipp Lienhart Rated 8/10 as Sabitzer Penalty Decides Cagey Affair 1-0

A solitary penalty from midfielder Marcel Sabitzer was enough for Austria to scrape past a dogged Cyprus side in a tense WC European Qualifier clash at the Raiffeisen Stadium. This was far from a classic. It was a match defined by grit over glamour, and a single moment of controversy decided the outcome. The game felt like a chess match for long periods, with both teams struggling for clear openings.

Austria dominated the ball as we expected, but they were often toothless in the final third. They huffed and puffed, but the Cypriot defense stood firm for the most part. The breakthrough came via a VAR-awarded penalty early in the second half, which Borussia Dortmund player Marcel Sabitzer coolly dispatched. What stood out to us was how Austria failed to build on that lead, missing several chances to kill the game off.

Cyprus will feel incredibly hard done by. They defended with their lives and had golden opportunities to snatch a point, or even more. Ioannis Pittas, in particular, will be having nightmares after hitting the woodwork and squandering two glorious chances. It was a spirited performance that deserved something, but ultimately, a lack of clinical finishing cost them dearly in this match.

Here are the Austria Vs Cyprus Player Ratings

Austria Player Ratings vs Cyprus

Here are Austria Player Ratings vs Cyprus

Goalkeeper

Alexander Schlager - 7.5: A commanding presence when called upon. Made four crucial saves, including a couple from inside the box that kept his clean sheet intact. His distribution was decent, and he managed his box with authority. We noticed his positioning was excellent throughout, never looking flustered. A very solid performance from the Austrian keeper.

Defenders

Philipp Lienhart - 8.0: Our man of the match. An absolute colossus at the back for Austria. He seemed to be everywhere, racking up an impressive eight clearances and winning all of his tackles. He was composed on the ball, with a 92% pass accuracy, and constantly snuffed out danger. It was a performance of pure defensive quality and leadership.

David Alaba - 7.5: The captain led by example before being subbed off. He was heavily involved, with 88 touches and a superb 92% pass completion rate. He wasn't just recycling possession; he drove forward, creating a chance and delivering dangerous crosses. His experience was vital in keeping the backline organized against Cypriot counters. A typically classy display.

Phillipp Mwene - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, performance. He was defensively sound for the most part but was a bit loose in possession, losing it 12 times. We felt he could have offered more of a threat going forward. He did his job without any major errors, but didn't exactly set the world alight.

Konrad Laimer - 7.0: A bundle of energy as always. Deployed in a defensive role, he still managed to get forward and create a big chance. He was tenacious in the tackle and made four crucial ball recoveries. His versatility is a huge asset, and he provided a good balance between defence and attack on his flank.

Midfielders

Marcel Sabitzer - 7.5: The match-winner. He showed nerves of steel to convert the decisive penalty. However, his overall game was a mixed bag. From our perspective, losing possession 19 times is far too high for a player of his calibre. Despite the wastefulness, his goal ultimately earned the three points, and you can't argue with that contribution.

Christoph Baumgartner - 7.0: The agent of chaos. He was a constant nuisance to the Cypriot defence, and his clever movement won the all-important penalty. But it was a frustrating night for him too, as he missed a glaring opportunity to double the lead. He was all-action, but the final product just wasn't quite there.

Xaver Schlager - 7.0: A very tidy and controlled performance in the heart of midfield before his substitution. He barely put a foot wrong, boasting a 95% pass accuracy. He dictated the tempo and won the majority of his duels, providing a stable platform for the attackers. A quiet but very effective outing.

Nicolas Seiwald - 6.5: Solid but failed to impose himself on the game. He kept the ball moving but was a bit passive at times. He was dribbled past on a couple of occasions and didn't offer much in the way of defensive security or attacking impetus. An average performance by his standards.

Patrick Wimmer - 5.5: A first half to forget. He was hooked at the break, and it wasn't a surprise. He made an error that led to a shot and was wasteful in possession. He struggled to get into the game and looked off the pace. A disappointing display.

Forwards

Marko Arnautovic - 5.0: Another player subbed at halftime, and rightly so. He was completely anonymous, touching the ball just 10 times in 45 minutes. He was caught offside twice and offered no threat whatsoever. It looked like the game was just passing him by. A performance he'll want to forget quickly.

Substitutes

Michael Gregoritsch - 6.5: Offered more of a physical presence than Arnautovic but wasn't much more effective.

Romano Schmid - 6.5: Looked lively and tried to make things happen but lacked a final ball.

Stefan Posch - 6.0: Came on and picked up a silly yellow card. Didn't add much stability.

Kevin Danso - 6.5: Solid enough after replacing Alaba, helping to see out the clean sheet.

Florian Grillitsch - N/A: Came on too late to make any real impact.

Manager

R. Rangnick - 6.5: His team got the three points, which is the main thing. The half-time changes were justified, and the team did secure the winning goal shortly after. However, the overall performance was disjointed and lacked a clinical edge against a much weaker opponent. He'll know a much better performance is needed going forward.

Cyprus Player Ratings vs Austria

Here are Cyprus Player Ratings vs Austria

Goalkeeper

Fabiano - 6.5: Couldn't do anything about the penalty. He made a couple of important saves, including a key stop to deny Christoph Baumgartner. He was a reliable presence between the sticks and commanded his area well under pressure. He can hold his head high despite the defeat.

Defenders

Kostas Pileas - 6.0: A real battler. He was involved in a running war down the flank, winning 8 duels and drawing 4 fouls. However, his use of the ball was poor, losing it 21 times with a low pass accuracy. His yellow card summed up a chaotic but committed performance.

Christos Sielis - 5.5: The game's tragic figure. He made a staggering 11 clearances and was a rock for 52 minutes. But his clumsy challenge for the penalty undid all his good work. It was the decisive moment of the match, and it's impossible to look past that error.

Konstantinos Laifis - 7.0: An excellent defensive display. He read the game brilliantly, making 10 clearances and 2 interceptions. He was strong in the air and composed under relentless Austrian pressure. Alongside his defensive partners, he made Austria work for every single inch.

Andreas Siikkis - 6.5: A solid and understated performance from the defender. He was very tidy on the ball, with an 81% pass accuracy, which is impressive given the pressure. He stuck to his task well and made no glaring errors. A disciplined showing.

Midfielders

Charalampos Charalampous - 7.5: What a talent. In his 80 minutes on the pitch, he was the most creative player for Cyprus. He created four chances, including one big chance, and his passing was incisive and accurate. It was a surprise to see him taken off. A real bright spark for the visitors.

Loizos Loizou - 6.0: A frustrating performance. He showed flashes of skill with 3 successful dribbles, but his final ball was lacking and he lost possession far too often. He worked hard but couldn't quite provide the quality needed in the final third. Picked up a deserved yellow card.

Kostakis Artymatas - 6.0: The captain put in a real shift defensively. He was there to break up play, making 6 clearances and 6 recoveries. However, he offered very little with the ball at his feet. His role was clearly to disrupt, and he did it reasonably well.

Grigoris Kastanos - 6.5: He was always trying to make something happen. He had four shots, though most were blocked, and he made three interceptions in a busy midfield display. He never stopped running and tried to drive his team forward. A gutsy performance.

Marinos Tzionis - 5.5: Largely anonymous before being substituted. He struggled to get involved, with only 23 touches in 67 minutes. He was wasteful in possession and offered little threat. It was no surprise when his number came up.

Forwards

Ioannis Pittas - 5.0: This was a painful one to watch. He could have been the hero. He hit the woodwork and missed two other big chances that could have changed the entire narrative of the game. His movement got him into the right positions, but his finishing was absolutely abysmal. A night he'll want to erase from memory.

Substitutes

Pieros Sotiriou - 6.0: Added a different dimension up front but missed a decent headed chance.

Ioannis Kosti - 6.0: Tried to get on the ball but couldn't unlock the Austrian defence.

Andronikos Kakoullis - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.

Charalambos Kyriakou - N/A: A late cameo.

Ioannis Kousoulos - N/A: Came on and missed a headed chance almost immediately.

Manager

A. Mantzios - 6.5: He set his team up perfectly to frustrate Austria, and for large parts, it worked. His side was organized, resilient, and fought for every ball. He was ultimately let down by a clumsy defensive error and horrific finishing from his striker. He can be proud of the performance, if not the result.

Sportdunia's Player of the Match is Philipp Lienhart