Austria Starts World Cup Year with Dominant 5-1 Victory Over Ghana
VIENNA, Austria – Austria kicked off their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in emphatic style, defeating Ghana 5-1 in a dominant display at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna on Friday. The convincing win provides a significant boost of confidence for Ralf Rangnick’s side as they build towards the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Sabitzer Penalty Sets the Tone
The match began with a cautious approach from both teams, but the opening goal arrived in the 12th minute through a penalty awarded to Austria. Ghana’s Adjetey was adjudged to have handled the ball after a header from Danso, and captain Marcel Sabitzer calmly converted the spot-kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. The early lead established a positive momentum for the home side.
Ghana struggled to mount a consistent attacking threat in the first half, with Manchester City’s Morgan Semenyo registering their only meaningful attempt on goal in the 32nd minute. At the other complete, Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner forced a smart save from Ati-Zigi in the 40th minute, demonstrating Austria’s attacking intent.
Wanner Impacts the Game
The second half saw the introduction of Florian Wiegele and Paul Wanner, both making their debuts for the Austrian national team. Wanner quickly made his presence felt, delivering a long ball that found Sabitzer, who then played a clever pass to Michael Gregoritsch, who slotted the ball home to extend Austria’s lead to 2-0 in the 51st minute.
Wanner continued to influence the game, providing the assist for Austria’s third goal in the 59th minute. His well-delivered corner was headed on by Gregoritsch to Philipp Posch, who rose highest to power the ball into the net. Shortly after, Carney Chukwuemeka entered the fray, also earning his first cap for Austria.
Chukwuemeka’s Dream Debut and Seiwald’s Milestone
Despite Austria’s dominance, Ghana managed to pull a goal back in the 77th minute. Andre Ayew was given too much space and unleashed a powerful shot that Wiegele couldn’t prevent from finding the back of the net. However, any hopes of a Ghanaian comeback were quickly extinguished.
Almost immediately after conceding, Austria restored their four-goal advantage through Chukwuemeka, who marked his debut with a stunning goal. A perfectly weighted through ball from Sabitzer released the midfielder, and he confidently finished under the goalkeeper to make it 4-1.
In the closing moments of the match, Spain-based defender David Affengruber also made his debut for Austria. Then, in added time, midfielder Lucas Seiwald, in his 45th international appearance, finally broke his duck for the national team, scoring a beautiful long-range goal to complete the rout, making it 5-1. Seiwald’s strike was a fitting end to a comprehensive performance.
The victory represents a strong start to the World Cup year for Austria, and provides Rangnick with valuable insights as he assesses his squad ahead of the tournament. The team will look to build on this momentum in their next friendly against South Korea on Tuesday.
For Austria, this match wasn’t just about the result; it was about integrating new players and solidifying the tactical approach that Rangnick hopes will carry them through the challenges of the World Cup. The performance against Ghana suggests they are on the right track.
The Ernst-Happel-Stadion witnessed a near-capacity crowd of 40,000, creating a vibrant atmosphere for the friendly. Rangnick expressed his hope that the stadium will be equally full for the match against South Korea, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for the national team.
This win provides a positive signal for Austrian football fans, offering a glimpse of the potential that lies within the squad as they prepare for the global stage. The blend of experienced players like Sabitzer and emerging talents like Wanner and Chukwuemeka suggests a promising future for the national team.
Next up for Austria is a clash with South Korea in Vienna on Tuesday, March 31st at 8:45 PM local time (20:45 CET). The match will provide another opportunity for Rangnick to experiment with his lineup and fine-tune his tactics before the World Cup begins.
