Ben Woodburn scored a debut goal to earn Wales a 1-0 win over Austria at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Liverpool youngster found a way through from range soon after coming off the bench to settle a cagey affair in the Welsh capital.
After edging the first half, the visiting side struggled to create any serious opening in the second 45 and were eventually undone by Woodburn.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the World Cup qualifying clash between Wales and Austria at the Cardiff City Stadium. With just four games left to play in Group D both these sides are in desperate need of maximum points this evening, with Serbia and the Republic of Ireland currently leading the way at the top of the standings.
Ireland and Serbia are both in action right now, taking on Georgia and Moldova respectively, so we will have a better idea of what is required for Wales and Austria in the next 10 minutes or so. On the face of it, though, anything less than three points for either could well spell the end of their campaign, albeit not officially just yet. Before looking at the various permutations, let us first check some confirmed team news.
WALES TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, Williams, Richards, Davies; Lawrence, Ramsey, Bale, Edwards; Vokes
SUBS: Ward, A. Davies, King, Robson-Kanu, Evans, Ampadu, Ledley, Lockyer, Collins, J Williams, Woodburn, Watkins
The big news as far as the hosts are concerned is the return to action of Gareth Bale, who sat out the 1-1 draw in Serbia a few months back due to suspension. The Real Madrid forward was always expected to slot back in after remaining injury free to begin the campaign, linking up with Burnley striker Sam Vokes in attack. There is a slight surprise elsewhere, meanwhile, as Joe Ledley fails to make the starting lineup.
Ledley has only featured once for club and country in the last five months, coming in that aforementioned draw with Serbia in Belgrade last time out. The central midfielder, currently without a club, has incredible fitness levels and is determined to represent his country in every match - as witnessed when somehow returning from a broken leg to feature heavily at Euro 2016 - but his lack of playing time has cost him as Tom Lawrence comes in.
Wales boss Chris Coleman has certainly freshened things up slightly after five-successive draws, fielding what is an attack-minded starting lineup. Aaron Ramsey is included despite picking up a knock in Arsenal's defeat to Liverpool a week ago, but in the absence of influential midfielder Joe Allen alongside him there is a place for Dave Edwards. Allen is suspended for this crucial qualifier, as is left-back Neil Taylor - both will return in Moldova three days from now.
AUSTRIA TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Lidner, Lainer, Dragovic, Hinteregger, Prodl, Ilsanker, Arnautovic, Alaba, Sabitzer, Harnik, Baumgartlinger
SUBS: Bachmann, Kuster, Wober, Schaub, Bauer, Grillitsch, Kainz, Danso, Heirlander, Gregoritsch, Janko, Laimer
In terms of the visitors, manager Marcel Koller has had to make do without Guido Burgstaller in his matchday squad this evening after the attacking midfielder pulled out through injury. Burgstaller made a handful of appearances for Cardiff City at this ground a few years back before being moved on for a minimal fee, but he has since got his career back on track at Schalke 04 and will be a miss tonight.
The 11-cap midfielder is replaced by Stefan Hierlander in the 18-man squad, with the Sturm Graz ace in line to make an appearance from the bench. Marc Janko is the top scorer in the Austria squad, netting a more-than-respectable 28 goals in 63 international outings, though he also has to make do with a place among the back-up options. Plenty of well-known faces in their ranks, too, including Marko Arnautovic and David Alaba in midfield.
Two changes made by Wales boss Chris Coleman in all, then, bringing in Gareth Bale and Tom Lawrence for Joe Ledley and Joe Allen respectively. Allen is absent tonight due to suspension - and a big loss he will be for the hosts, too - while his midfield partner misses out due to a lack of playing time in recent months after failing to find a new club.
A truly massive night in Cardiff for both these sides, with three points the target for both. There is some pretty good news for Wales and Austria ahead of kickoff, though, as Republic of Ireland have been held to a 1-1 draw away to Georgia - a result that actually flattered them slightly. Points dropped for Martin O'Neill's men, then, though it was business as usual for Serbia as they cruised to a 3-0 victory at home to Moldova.
What does that mean for Group D? Well, Serbia are now the outright leaders on 15 points from seven games, while Ireland are on 13 points in second. Then come Wales and Austria on eight points apiece, having played one game fewer than those above them, while Georgia and Moldova are out of the picture and essentially battling to avoid finishing bottom. Victory for the Dragons tonight will see them climb to within two points of the Irish.
Losing does not really seem to be a factor for the Dragons tonight - they do not tend to lose games these days. Their biggest problem is turning draws into victories, having been held in five successive games for the first time in their history. In fact, it is just the one defeat in 10 matches stretching back to Euro 2016, when they went down 2-0 to Portugal at the semi-final stage in Lyon.
Euro 2016 still lives fresh in the memory for Wales supporters - a truly historic achievement that will likely take a long time to match or indeed better. That was very much the exception rather than the norm, though, as the Dragons had previously qualified for a major international tournament way back in 1958, when a Pele-inspired Brazil knocked them out en route to winning the competition.
Reaching the semi-final of a major competition will only increase expectation levels, of course, which is something that Coleman has had to learn to deal with. Wales have not had a disappointing qualifying campaign this time around, as such, though too many draws have hindered them and supporters know that defeat tonight and all of a sudden the bubble bursts. Victory, on the other hand, and they are right on the heels of Ireland and can still boast about remaining unbeaten.
Wales were placed in a nice group on the face of it, with no standout names alongside them. On the flipside, four teams of similar quality were picked out of the hate, while Moldova and Georgia are two of the stronger bottom seeds. Whereas Andorra, Malta, Gibraltar and San Marino can guarantee you six points from six, travelling to Tbilisi and Chisinau is far from an easy task - just ask Republic of Ireland!
Just ask Wales, in fact, as they were held at home by Georgia last year. That, on the face of it, is the only disappointing result of their World Cup qualifying campaign, coming in the middle of this five-game drawing run. A 4-0 victory over Moldova here got the ball rolling this time last year, followed up by a respectable 2-2 draw against Austria in this reverse fixture.
Back-to-back stalemates in Belgrade and Dublin were also welcomed, coming against two very tough opponents, though the caveat to all that is the fact that Wales must now simply follow up the respectable draws with at least three wins from their last four games - likely four. Finishing second is enough to earn a playoff spot in eight of the nine groups, though Group D could well be the unfortunate one that misses out due to so many points being dropped.
Coleman knows that his side's fate is pretty much still in their hands at this point as Ireland are still to come here on the final matchday, while the boys in Green also have a crucial showdown with Serbia to come next Tuesday in Dublin - what a game that should be! Something has to give in that one and, with Wales due to face Moldova in Chisinau the same night, there is a real possibility that they can finally pounce.
That is tempting fate a little, however, which is never a smart thing to do ahead of such a big game. Austria are certainly no pushovers, sitting 37th in the world and with more than a few scalps to their name. It was not so long ago that they were ranked in the top 15, in fact, boasting the likes of Alaba, Arnautovic - back from suspension tonight - and new Leicester City man Aleksandar Dragovic in their ranks.
DID YOU KNOW? Wales have not lost a competitive home match since 2013 when going down 3-0 to Serbia in a World Cup 2014 qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium. They have lost just one of their last 18 qualifiers overall, in fact - even that was described as the "best defeat of my life" by Gareth Bale, as a slender loss in Bosnia was not enough so stop the Dragons from reaching Euro 2016.
Austria are stinging together a similar run following a slow start to their campaign, going four without defeat ahead of this trip to Cardiff. Their most recent loss came against Republic of Ireland last November; that 1-0 loss seriously denting their qualifying hopes after previously going down 3-2 to Serbia and drawing with Wales. Koller's men have earned wins over Georgia and Moldova either side, however, while also earning a solid point away to Ireland last time out.
Koller's side are back on track, now level on points with Wales but sitting a place lower by virtue of an inferior goal difference. Austria are home to Georgia and Serbia in their next two matches, before a to Moldova to round things off - far from easy and, much like with Wales, taking 12 points from the 12 on offer will be an extremely tough task. That is why it is so important for both teams to simply take it one match at a time.
Austria have conceded seven goals so far in qualifying compared to Wales's five - the same tally as Ireland, who have played one game more. They have scored the same number of goals, meanwhile, each finding the net nine times, which leaves them behind Serbia who now have 16 from their seven matches. Coleman has deliberately gone with an attacking lineup this evening, so those stats could alter quite considerably over the next couple of hours.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Wales have won just two of their previous nine meetings against Austria, drawing two and losing five of those. One of the draws came last time out in an entertaining four-goal affair in Vienna; Marko Arnautovic twice pegging the Dragons back after a fine Joe Allen strike and a Kevin Wimmer own goal. The last time they met on Welsh soil the hosts prevailed 2-1 in a friendly at the Liberty Stadium four years ago.
Chris Coleman scored on his Wales debut against Austria 25 years ago, incidentally, with that one also finishing all square at 1-1. Coleman is into the final throes of his managerial career with the Dragons, having announced last year that he intends to step aside at the end of the campaign. That could mean staying on until the World Cup, though as things stand there is more chance of the Swansea native being denied the chance of bowing out on a high.
A succession plan will no doubt already be in place, knowing that Coleman could well be out of the job in around five weeks' time after the Ireland home game. Current assistant Osian Roberts is a real contender to step up in Wales are looking to promote from within, while Rob Page has made a positive start to life as Under-21s coach - seeing his side kick off their Euro 2019 campaign with a 3-0 win in Switzerland yesterday - and is another left-field option.
With kickoff at the Cardiff City Stadium now a little over five minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from the Wales camp.
Chris Coleman: "I don't think either team is going into the game looking for a draw. Both teams are capable of scoring goals with good, exciting players. I think it will be open and a great game. A draw doesn't do either of us any good so you would imagine something will have to give. This was always going to be a tight group, the teams are very similar and four teams are very strong. I feel it will go right to the wire."
Ashley Williams: "It's one we feel we must win. That's what we haven't had, that momentum in that campaign, which has been frustrating. But I do feel like it changed after the Serbia game [in June], which was still a draw but we felt like it was a good draw for us. It felt like the start then. If we can win this game, then we can keep this momentum going for the last three after this. That will be the plan and pick up a bit of steam to finish the campaign."
Coleman has said right from the off that Group D would go down to the wire, as have many neutrals. It is the tightest of groups, containing four sides of similar ability and two very tough bottom seed opponents for good measure. Both Coleman and Williams have acknowledged that three points is the target for both teams, however, with the games fast running out. A reminder that Serbia are seven points clear, having played one game more.
It is anthems time in the Welsh capital, starting with Austria and then Wales. A packed crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium this evening, with 33,000+ crammed inside the ground - including a healthy travelling contingent from Austria. This is a truly massive game for both teams, one that - if all goes badly - could spell the end of their respective qualifying campaigns.
KICKOFF! Superb atmosphere inside the sold-out Cardiff City Stadium. The home supporters famously got their side over the line against Belgium a couple of years back - something similar is required over the next two hours.
Ominous signs for Austria, as Bale picks up the ball 40 yards from goal and is given acres of space to charge into. He wanted it on his left but had to settle for the right, dragging it wide of the target. Vokes unable to latch on to the shot.
Very bright start from the home side, boosted by their vocal supporters. Lawrence the latest to get to the ball ahead of his man, rather buying the free kick to give Ramsey a chance to whip it into the box from a deep position.
A fine delivery from Ramsey, sending the ball into a zone where a few of his teammates were waiting to pounce. Arnautovic was the first player there, though, sticking out a large leg and clearing the ball for the visiting side.
A completely one-sided opening nine minutes to the contest in Cardiff. Austria have barely had a touch of the ball in the opposition half, which does not bode well for them as they are here for all three points this evening.
SHOT! Coleman will be absolutely delighted with the way his side have started the match. Ramsey weaves past a couple of players and, despite having Bale to his left, takes on the shot which rises slightly over the bar. Up the other end, Martin Harnik's free header from a corner ends wide.
All of a sudden Austria are the side on top. Good play down the left from Arnautovic to cut the ball back, but the initial shot is blocked and then the referee blew his whistle for handball. Wales just over-committing in attack.
Short stoppage in play for Lawrence to receive some treatment after taking a knee in the ribs. Following a dominant opening 10 minutes, Wales are now the side struggling to get their foot on the ball in a lively encounter here.
CLOSE! Real pressure on Wales now. Arnautovic's cross takes a small touch at the front post which helps it fly inches past the target. Prior to that Edwards produced a well-timed tackle in the box to prevent Alaba getting a shot away.
Neither side has managed a shot on target just yet, but it is certainly a gripping game. The opening quarter has been split in half - Wales dominating the first half and Austria the second, without truly threatening inside the box.
Momentum might just be swinging back in the home side's favour. A rare delivery into the box is slightly too high for Vokes, while Bale was also unable to make contact. Hennessey then stupidly raced off his line at the other end, but was helped out by his teammates when stranded.
Such a contrast in the match compared to the opening 10 minutes. Austria win another corner, which Prodl this time gets on the end of but cannot really direct it on goal. If this continues much longer Coleman will surely alter his system.
The visitors looking very sharp when they get on the ball, although that said they have still yet to muster a shot on target. Arnautovic pulling all the strings in the hole, with Wales camped inside their own final third of the field at the moment.
YELLOW CARDS! Unbelievable flicked pass from Bale into the path of Davies, who could not quite control it when through on goal. Prodl and Chester both shown yellow cards for separate incidents when attempting to halt counter-attacks.
AUSTRIA SUB! Prodl picked up an injury when making that previous challenge, seeing his night come to an early end. Kevin Danso is thrown in at the deep end, so to speak, as he comes on for his senior international debut.
The quietest spell in the match, breaking up what was a dominant period for the visitors. Still no real sign of Wales wrestling back control of the contest, though, with too much distance between their midfielders and central striker.
The Cardiff City Stadium falls silent as Ramsey gets on the end of a loose ball. The angle is against him as he dinked it over the keeper, only for the crossbar to come to the visitors' rescue - at least it looked that way, though the referee had already blown his whistle for an earlier infringement.
CHANCE! Nice play from Austria yet again, as Julian Baumgartlinger and Arnautovic exchanged passes for the latter to find himself through on goal. Angle was slightly against him, but he should have done better than bending the ball wide of the target.
Less than 10 minutes of the first half left to play and it is the visitors who have edged things. Wales looked very bright in the opening stages of the match, but since then they have badly struggled to find any sort of momentum.
SHOT! Vokes doing what he does best, getting on the end of a high ball and knocking it down for Lawrence to strike with the outside of his foot 20 yards from goal. Wide of the target, though something for home supporters to feed off.
SAVE! First save of the evening, as Marcel Sabitzer is able to turn and shoot just inside the opposition area. Smart stop from Hennessey in the end, getting down to not only keep the ball out but also collect it with both hands.
CLOSE! Bale is now in direct competition with debutant Danso on the Wales left. The Real Madrid man decided against trying to take him on, though, instead flicking it over the top for Ramsey and in turn winning a corner. Up the other end, Sabitzer dragged a couple of inches wide.
What on earth is Lindner doing?! The Austria keeper, under little pressure, fails to put enough weight on the ball to find Danso across his goal line. A trio of Wales players close in on the ball but the visitors clear their lines - just!
HALF TIME: WALES 0-0 AUSTRIA
The goalless first half comes to an end in Cardiff, with Ramsey sending a deep free kick straight into Lindner's hands from the final act. Austria have edged things on the whole, though Wales have also had their moments in what was a fairly gripping opening 45 minutes.
After dominating the opening 10 minutes without creating any openings, Wales were soon pushed back and were arguably fortunate not go into the break a goal down. An Aaron Ramsey shot aside, which was always rising over the bar, it was the visiting side who looked the more likely to make a first-half breakthrough as Marko Arnautovic and David Alaba began to pull the strings.
Arnautovic saw deflected cross fly narrowly wide of Wayne Hennessey's goal, before exchanging passes with Julian Baumgartlinger soon after to find himself through on goal. The West Ham United attacker could only send the ball over the bar from a tight angle, however, and Marcel Sabitzer also sent a shot inches wide of the target.
Hennessey was called into action for the first time 41 minutes into the contest, getting down well to deny RB Leipzig forward Sabitzer after he turned and shot inside the box. A first half with few clear-cut chances, then, but one that the visitors will feel that they have done enough to take the lead in.
It would not be at all surprising to see Chris Coleman change his system for the second half, which could mean a change of personnel. Here is a reminder of the subs available to both him and opposite number Marcel Koller...
WALES SUBS: Ward, A. Davies, King, Robson-Kanu, Evans, Ampadu, Ledley, Lockyer, Collins, J Williams, Woodburn, Watkins
AUSTRIA SUBS: Bachmann, Kuster, Wober, Schaub, Bauer, Grillitsch, Kainz, Heirlander, Gregoritsch, Janko, Laimer
RESTART! We are back under way at the Cardiff City Stadium, where Coleman has unsurprisingly made a change. Andy King, rather than Joe Ledley, is on in place of Jazz Richards, likely meaning a four-man defence for this second half.
Like in the first half, Wales start the second half well and see an Aaron Ramsey header fly wide of the target. They need to keep this momentum going, as they go in search of their first real effort on target of the evening.
Lawrence tries his best to weave his way through and, while he was unsuccessful, he managed to get the home fans out of their seats. The noise levels have dropped a few decibels as the night has gone on, but that seems likely to now change.
SHOT! Wales's best moment of the night so far, as Williams nods down a free kick into the path of Ramsey. The Arsenal midfielder smashed the ball towards goal from close range, but it hit Martin Hinteregger before it could reach the net.
Williams again climbs high to get on the end of a deep free kick, but he fails to win the ball this time and instead heads Danso. After an initial scare both men are back on their feet and fine to continue. Wales looking bright at the moment.
SAVE! The Dragons really starting to click into gear now. Bale, for just the second time tonight, is played into space on the edge of the box and this time manages to force Heinz Lindner into making a sprawling save to his left.
Cannot take your eyes off this match at the moment. Wales win a free kick but, after three shots were blocked inside the box, Austria quickly counter through Arnautovic. The attack was rather disappointing, as they failed to work a shooting chance.
Hinteregger drills the ball right through the box, with none of the five or six players inside the area able to get a touch - incredible! An hour now on the clock in Cardiff, which tends to be the time managers shake things up a little.
Superb from Williams, getting back to his byline to cut out the left-sided cutback. The Everton defender was lucky to get away with a deliberate shoulder-charge in the build-up to the block, though, which the referee did not spot.
A sense of things starting to boil over now, with a few niggling fouls. Lindner winds up home fans further by moving the free kick a good few yards forward before then seemingly wasting time - not sure why, with his time needing three points.
SAVE! Not happening for Wales at the moment, which may be enough to see Coleman spring into action for the second time. Ramsey did manage to move up a gear though, driving forward and getting a fingertip stop out of Lindner.
Bale with the tackle of the game to take the ball off his opponents boot just as he was about to shoot. Coleman is readying a couple of players to come on as he rolls the dice for one last time, while Koller is seemingly happy enough.
WALES SUBS! Hal Robson-Kanu will give something different to Wales in attack, as he comes on for Vokes. Ben Woodburn is handed a debut at the age of 17, too, coming on for Tom Lawrence in midfield. Big, big call from Coleman!
Less than a quarter of the campaign left and this one is still in the balance at the Cardiff City Stadium. A good result for Serbia and Ireland as it stands, leaving them essentially battling for the top-two spots heading into the final few fixtures.
GOAL! WALES 1-0 AUSTRIA (BEN WOODBURN)
Spine-tingling moment at the Cardiff City Stadium! Woodburn, introduced for his senior Wales debut a few minutes ago, picks out the back of the net from from about 23 yards out just as a rendition of the Welsh national anthem had finished up. What a moment for the youngster!
This is nothing new for Wales, as they have yet to trail in a single game this campaign. Lessons need to be learned - they cannot sit back for 13 minutes and soak up the pressure, as Austria appear to have a goal in them.
BLOCK! Woodburn will make the headlines, but this from Williams was super. Arnautovic works some space and appeared to get the beating of Hennessey, but Williams got his head to the ball on the line to repel the visitors.
Gregoritsch was brought on for Sabitzer in the midst of all that. Wales looking to keep their foot on the ball now, knowing that they have thrown away countless points from winning positions already during this qualifying campaign.
AUSTRIA SUB! Janko, the top scorer in the Austria ranks, is brought on in place of Harnik for the final seven minutes. The visitors essentially going with three or four up top now, with two goals needed to keep their hopes alive.
Bale wanted a penalty after being bundled over inside the box, but there was little in it. Wales doing really well at the moment, remaining on top of the game and not allowing their opponents to put together attacking moves.
Just three minutes, plus probably four more added on, for Wales to hold on. A cross from the right took a touch on its way through, meaning a throw for the Dragons deep into their own half, where they will inevitably look to keep the ball.
Time fast running out for Austria, whose campaign is close to coming to an end. Both manager talked of the need of collecting three points tonight, and it is Wales - thanks to Woodburn - who look likely to have achieved their mission.
We are into the first of four added on minutes, paving the way for those nerves to kick in. The ball drops awkwardly in and around the hosts' box, but they manage to deal with it and Hennessey then got fouled from the next delivery.
One minute left to go for Wales. They have thrown away leads so often over the past 12 months, ensuring that they sit third and not top, but they appear to have learned their lesson and they are now on the brink of three massive points. Robson-Kanu was through on goal but got his shot horribly wrong!
FULL TIME: WALES 1-0 AUSTRIA
Unbelievable scenes at the Cardiff City Stadium as the full time whistle sounds. Wales probably should have added a second late on, with Robson-Kanu skimming the post and Bale forcing one last big save out of Lindner. In the end Ben Woodburn's goal proved the difference, finding a way through from range on his debut to revive the Dragons' qualifying hopes.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the Cardiff City Stadium. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction will follow elsewhere on the site shortly. Thanks for joining us for this latest batch of World Cup 2018 qualifiers!
