Austria beats Latvia 3-1 in friendly

Posted Wednesday, June 08, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

GRAZ, Austria (AP)—Striker Martin Harnik scored twice in the final 10 minutes to give Austria a 3-1 win over Latvia in an international friendly on Tuesday.

It was Austria’s first win in eight months, ending a series of five straight defeats and a draw since beating Azerbaijan on Oct. 8.

Harnik scored with a header from close range in the 81st minute to make it 2-1 and added another goal from a penalty kick in injury time.

It was the Stuttgart striker’s fifth goal in 24 matches for Austria.

Defender Pavels Mihadjuks gave Latvia the lead early in the second half with his first international goal, beating goalkeeper Christian Gratzei with a low shot after the Austria defense had left him unmarked.

Austria’s Christopher Dibon leveled the score on his international debut with a well-placed header from David Alaba’s free kick in the 75th.

Dibon is captain of Austria’s under-21 team and was a late addition to the squad after regulars Emanuel Pogatetz, Paul Scharner and Marc Janko were ruled out following the 2-1 defeat by Germany in a Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday.

Latvia ended the match with eight players after Mihadjuks and defender Oskars Klava each received a second yellow card for rough play in the closing minutes, while goalkeeper Andris Vanins was sent off for fouling Erwin Hoffer in the area.

Lineups:

Austria: Christian Gratzei, Manuel Ortlechner, Florian Klein, Christopher Dibon, Christian Fuchs (Thomas Schrammel, 90), Zlatko Junuzovic (Manuel Weber, 90), Stefan Kulovits, Julian Baumgartlinger (Daniel Royer, 62), David Alaba (Christopher Drazan, 90), Roman Kienast (Erwin Hoffer, 62), Martin Harnik.

Latvia: Andris Vanins, Pavels Mihadjuks, Kaspars Gorkss, Deniss Ivanovs, Oskars Klava, Akeksandrs Cauna (Igors Tarasovs, 79), Jurijs Zigajevs (Daniils Turkovs, 86), Artis Lazdins, Ritvars Rugins, Artjoms Rudnevs (Deniss Romanovs, 90), Edgars Gauracs (Andrejs Pereplotkins, 71).